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Medical Assistant Salary by State (2026): Complete Table + FAQs
Medical assistants support doctors and clinics in nearly every specialty, with pay that varies by state and setting. This state-by-state table from the latest official U.S. BLS OEWS release shows hourly, monthly and yearly wages.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS (latest release) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
Medical Assistant pay by state at a glance
| State | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $28.17 | $4,883 | $58,590 |
| Alaska | $27.23 | $4,719 | $56,630 |
| California | $26.49 | $4,592 | $55,100 |
| District of Columbia | $26.39 | $4,574 | $54,890 |
| Oregon | $25.19 | $4,367 | $52,400 |
| Massachusetts | $24.93 | $4,321 | $51,850 |
| Minnesota | $24.84 | $4,305 | $51,660 |
| Hawaii | $23.91 | $4,144 | $49,730 |
| Colorado | $23.80 | $4,124 | $49,490 |
| New Hampshire | $23.74 | $4,116 | $49,390 |
| Wisconsin | $23.69 | $4,107 | $49,280 |
| Maine | $23.56 | $4,083 | $49,000 |
| New York | $23.44 | $4,063 | $48,750 |
| Connecticut | $23.37 | $4,051 | $48,610 |
| Vermont | $23.22 | $4,025 | $48,300 |
| Nebraska | $23.10 | $4,003 | $48,040 |
| Rhode Island | $22.86 | $3,963 | $47,550 |
| New Jersey | $22.79 | $3,950 | $47,400 |
| North Dakota | $22.53 | $3,906 | $46,870 |
| Montana | $22.39 | $3,881 | $46,570 |
| Maryland | $22.31 | $3,866 | $46,390 |
| Arizona | $22.02 | $3,816 | $45,790 |
| Illinois | $22.01 | $3,814 | $45,770 |
| Iowa | $21.60 | $3,744 | $44,930 |
| Utah | $21.52 | $3,730 | $44,760 |
| Indiana | $21.39 | $3,708 | $44,500 |
| Delaware | $21.30 | $3,692 | $44,300 |
| Idaho | $21.27 | $3,687 | $44,240 |
| Nevada | $21.24 | $3,681 | $44,170 |
| North Carolina | $21.20 | $3,674 | $44,090 |
| Virginia | $21.18 | $3,671 | $44,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $20.92 | $3,625 | $43,500 |
| Florida | $20.81 | $3,608 | $43,290 |
| Wyoming | $20.52 | $3,557 | $42,680 |
| Ohio | $20.49 | $3,551 | $42,610 |
| Georgia | $20.48 | $3,549 | $42,590 |
| South Carolina | $20.36 | $3,528 | $42,340 |
| South Dakota | $20.28 | $3,514 | $42,170 |
| Missouri | $20.21 | $3,503 | $42,030 |
| Michigan | $19.98 | $3,463 | $41,550 |
| Kansas | $19.95 | $3,458 | $41,490 |
| New Mexico | $19.95 | $3,458 | $41,490 |
| Tennessee | $19.94 | $3,457 | $41,480 |
| Texas | $19.83 | $3,437 | $41,240 |
| Kentucky | $19.68 | $3,412 | $40,940 |
| Oklahoma | $19.41 | $3,364 | $40,370 |
| Arkansas | $18.71 | $3,244 | $38,930 |
| West Virginia | $18.31 | $3,174 | $38,090 |
| Alabama | $17.68 | $3,064 | $36,770 |
| Mississippi | $17.42 | $3,020 | $36,240 |
| Louisiana | $17.40 | $3,015 | $36,180 |
The states that pay the most
Based on the data above, the top-paying states for this occupation are Washington, Alaska, California, District of Columbia, Oregon. Always compare pay against cost of living — a lower dollar wage in a cheaper state can win.
- Washington — $58,590 a year
- Alaska — $56,630 a year
- California — $55,100 a year
- District of Columbia — $54,890 a year
- Oregon — $52,400 a year
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays medical assistants the most?
The table above ranks every published state and Washington currently leads. Hospitals tend to pay more than private practices.
What is the average medical assistant salary?
The U.S. mean medical assistant wage is about $46,120 a year (about $22.17 per hour) in the latest BLS OEWS release, with a median near $45,690.
Does certification raise medical assistant pay?
Yes — CMA and RMA credentials typically move you up the pay band within the same state.
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