Medical Assistant salary in California
Medical Assistants in California earn a median of $49,660 a year ($23.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 117,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,300 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $45,690. California ranks 6th of 51 states for medical assistants pay. There are 6.4 medical assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $55,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for medical assistants in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,290 | $18.89 |
| 25th percentile | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Median | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| 75th percentile | $61,870 | $29.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,300 | $37.16 |
| Average (mean) | $55,100 | $26.49 |
Half of medical assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,138.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,069.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,910 |
| Weekly | $955 |
| Hourly | $23.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,660 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Medical Assistant salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $77,410 | 1,360 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $64,820 | 1,550 |
| Napa, CA | $62,050 | 320 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $61,970 | 7,410 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $61,940 | 6,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,790 | 14,320 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,680 | 2,020 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $50,090 | 960 |
| Modesto, CA | $49,990 | 1,870 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $49,520 | 850 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $49,510 | 480 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $49,500 | 1,660 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,420 | 9,370 |
| Yuba City, CA | $49,410 | 430 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,890 | 1,080 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,840 | 1,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,760 | 39,770 |
| Chico, CA | $47,150 | 770 |
| Visalia, CA | $47,140 | 1,580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,700 | 11,280 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,560 | 2,340 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,500 | 3,310 |
| Redding, CA | $46,210 | 520 |
| El Centro, CA | $45,290 | 390 |
| Merced, CA | $39,800 | 700 |
Highest-paying states for medical assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $59,290 |
| Alaska | $52,560 |
| District of Columbia | $51,050 |
| Minnesota | $50,480 |
| Oregon | $50,410 |
| California | $49,660 |
| Massachusetts | $49,460 |
| Wisconsin | $48,680 |
| Hawaii | $48,410 |
| Colorado | $48,400 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistant | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Massage Therapist | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Phlebotomist | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $42,200 | $20.29 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Orderly | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $81,770 | $39.31 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9092. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical assistant make in California?
The median salary for medical assistants in California is $49,660 a year, or $23.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid medical assistants make in California?
The top 10% of medical assistants in California earn at least $77,300 a year. The top 25% earn $61,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for medical assistants in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,290 a year, and a quarter of medical assistants earn $46,240 or less.
How many medical assistants work in California?
About 117,060 medical assistants are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.