Medical assistants are healthcare workers who assist doctors in places like –
- Clinics,
- Medical offices, and
- Hospitals.
They might –
- Schedule your appointment,
- Note down the vital signs, or
- Take your blood.
They can also ask you about your symptoms and health concerns, and then write down that information in your medical record for the doctor to review.
Although medical assistants work closely with doctors, they cannot give medical advice.
Their role is to support the medical team rather than provide direct care or advice.
If you want to become one, you need to know the average income for a medical assistant.
What Do They Do?
MAs responsibilities can differ depending on –
- The place of work
- Their expertise, and
- Their employer.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports – as of 2023, the medical assistant annual salary was $42,000 per year.
It equals about $20.19 per hour.
Where Do Medical Assistants Work?
Some work from the doctor’s office, however, some work from home while looking after administrative tasks.
Doctor’s Offices & Medical Clinics
If you enjoy working in a busy, community-focused environment, a hospital may be a great place for you.
Hospitals:
If we talk about hospitals, they are the second-largest employers of medical assistance. They are open 24/7, so MA’s work timings can differ. The medical assisting pay at the hospitals is very competitive due to higher stress levels.
Outpatient Care:
These centers provide services that don’t need overnight stays. Those include minor surgeries or lab tests. They are actually less stressful
Pediatric Clinics:
If you enjoy working with children, pediatric clinics are for you.
You’ll need to communicate well with both kids and adults and have patience during busy days.
OB-GYN Offices:
Working in an OB-GYN office might be a good fit – if you know women’s health. The job involves –
- Looking after vital signs,
- Managing patient records, and
- Answering questions.
Highest Paying Cities for Medical Assistant Jobs in the USA
As per Indeed, here is the average salary of a medical assistant in different cities:
| City | Hourly Wage ($) | Salaries Reported |
| New York, NY | 22.00 | 957 |
| Brooklyn, NY | 21.05 | 766 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 20.45 | 908 |
| Atlanta, GA | 19.74 | 384 |
| Austin, TX | 19.61 | 500 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 19.28 | 868 |
| Dallas, TX | 19.00 | 526 |
| Charlotte, NC | 18.58 | 226 |
| Houston, TX | 17.49 | 1200 |
The average pay for a medical assistant in the United States is $20.13 per hour. There have been 103,000 reported salaries, and the data was last updated on January 20, 2025.
What About the Average Medical Assistant’s Pay Based on Experience?
Before applying for a medical assistant position, many people think:
- Where do they work?
- What’s their salary on average?
- How much can they make depending on their specialized roles?
These questions help new students understand what to expect. Usually, it is needed when they are entering the medical assistant field and the job outlook in the industry.
Like many other healthcare jobs, a medical assistant’s salary typically increases with experience.
Research from PayScale shows that the pay for medical assistants changes based on experience, position, and skills. Like this –
| Experience Level | Hourly Wage ($) |
| Entry-Level (less than 1 year) | 14.71 |
| Early Career (1-4 years) | 16.38 |
| Mid-Career (5-9 years) | 17.90 |
| Late Career (10-19 years) | 19.77 |
| Experienced (20+ years) | 18.99 |
In general, the longer a medical assistant works, the higher their pay tends to be.
Industry Overview for Medical Assistants
It shows the industries where medical assistants have the most jobs and highest pay as of May 2023 – according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Industries with the Highest Employment for Medical Assistants
| Industry | Employment | Percent of Industry Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
| Offices of Physicians | 430,490 |
15.15% |
$20.29 | $42,200 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 115,850 | 2.03% | $22.00 | $45,760 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 70,470 | 6.63% | $24.16 | $50,250 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 60,350 | 5.29% | $18.01 | $37,460 |
| Employment Services | 16,530 | 0.44% | $23.24 | $48,330 |
Industries with the Highest Concentration of Employment for Medical Assistants
| Industry | Employment | Percent of Industry Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
| Offices of Physicians | 430,490 | 15.15% | $20.29 | $42,200 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 70,470 | 6.63% | $24.16 | $50,250 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 60,350 | 5.29% | $18.01 | $37,460 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 115,850 | 2.03% | $22.00 | $45,760 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 6,330 | 1.84% | $20.44 | $42,520 |
Top Paying Industries for Medical Assistants
| Industry | Employment | Percent of Industry Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 650 | 0.07% | $26.51 | $55,130 |
| Junior Colleges | 150 | 0.02% | $25.91 | $53,890 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | 90 | 0.06% | $24.51 | $50,990 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 70,470 | 6.63% | $24.16 | $50,250 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 3,480 | 0.19% | $23.60 | $49,090 |
Medical Assistant Benefits and Packages
According to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), many factors, other than salary, can affect the hourly wage and benefits of medical assistants in the U.S.
The 2023 Compensation and Benefits Survey, which included responses from over 10,000 medical assistants, shows the following benefits most medical assistants receive:
