Medical Assistant Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) medical assistant in the US earns $21.97 an hour, or $45,690 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 817,870 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,470 and $49,180 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $59,310.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $38,892 a year ($3,241 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($48,989 a year) and lowest in Alabama ($29,721).
Medical Assistant pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $17.33 | $36,050 | $31,146 |
| 25th percentile | $18.50 | $38,470 | $33,091 |
| Median (half earn more) | $21.97 | $45,690 | $38,892 |
| 75th percentile | $23.65 | $49,180 | $41,696 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $28.52 | $59,310 | $49,836 |
The average (mean) is $46,120 a year ($22.17 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 31-9092. Source
Medical Assistant salary by state
The highest median pay for medical assistants is in Washington ($59,280), Alaska ($52,560), District of Columbia ($51,040), Minnesota ($50,480), Oregon ($50,420). The lowest is in Mississippi ($35,360), Alabama ($36,090), Louisiana ($36,320).
The most medical assistants work in California (117,060), Texas (75,340), Florida (66,110).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($48,989), Alaska ($44,149), New Hampshire ($40,772), California ($40,323), Minnesota ($39,888). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $17.35 | $36,090 | $29,721 | 13,300 |
| Alaska | $25.27 | $52,560 | $44,149 | 2,140 |
| Arizona | $22.09 | $45,950 | $38,182 | 21,460 |
| Arkansas | $18.15 | $37,750 | $31,604 | 5,150 |
| California | $23.88 | $49,670 | $40,323 | 117,060 |
| Colorado | $23.27 | $48,400 | $38,969 | 13,160 |
| Connecticut | $22.81 | $47,440 | $38,365 | 10,250 |
| Delaware | $21.39 | $44,490 | $35,957 | 2,880 |
| District of Columbia | $24.54 | $51,040 | $43,191* | 2,260 |
| Florida | $21.00 | $43,680 | $37,277 | 66,110 |
| Georgia | $20.00 | $41,600 | $34,278 | 28,780 |
| Hawaii | $23.28 | $48,420 | $38,670 | 3,890 |
| Idaho | $21.49 | $44,700 | $36,588 | 5,250 |
| Illinois | $22.16 | $46,090 | $37,077 | 20,260 |
| Indiana | $21.69 | $45,120 | $36,241 | 19,630 |
| Iowa | $21.87 | $45,490 | $37,536 | 5,990 |
| Kansas | $19.00 | $39,520 | $32,529 | 5,510 |
| Kentucky | $18.88 | $39,270 | $32,477 | 13,440 |
| Louisiana | $17.46 | $36,320 | $30,639 | 12,310 |
| Maine | $22.88 | $47,590 | $38,465 | 4,480 |
| Maryland | $22.31 | $46,400 | $36,298 | 16,390 |
| Massachusetts | $23.78 | $49,460 | $39,630 | 14,880 |
| Michigan | $19.17 | $39,870 | $32,772 | 27,810 |
| Minnesota | $24.27 | $50,480 | $39,888 | 10,580 |
| Mississippi | $17.00 | $35,360 | $29,916 | 3,340 |
| Missouri | $19.44 | $40,440 | $33,712 | 13,050 |
| Montana | $22.51 | $46,820 | $38,344 | 2,460 |
| Nebraska | $22.78 | $47,380 | $38,691 | 2,380 |
| Nevada | $21.73 | $45,200 | $38,498 | 7,760 |
| New Hampshire | $23.09 | $48,030 | $40,772 | 3,000 |
| New Jersey | $22.70 | $47,220 | $38,475 | 20,330 |
| New Mexico | $18.86 | $39,230 | $32,635 | 5,400 |
| New York | $23.08 | $48,010 | $38,490 | 40,710 |
| North Carolina | $21.70 | $45,140 | $37,124 | 23,650 |
| North Dakota | $22.11 | $45,990 | $39,133 | 600 |
| Ohio | $20.58 | $42,810 | $35,679 | 28,950 |
| Oklahoma | $18.63 | $38,750 | $32,120 | 10,510 |
| Oregon | $24.24 | $50,420 | $39,103 | 11,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $21.12 | $43,930 | $36,098 | 23,050 |
| Rhode Island | $22.69 | $47,200 | $37,854 | 3,210 |
| South Carolina | $19.79 | $41,160 | $33,986 | 12,110 |
| South Dakota | $20.13 | $41,870 | $35,823 | 1,340 |
| Tennessee | $19.02 | $39,560 | $33,966 | 19,180 |
| Texas | $19.00 | $39,520 | $33,934 | 75,340 |
| Utah | $21.81 | $45,360 | $36,625 | 9,990 |
| Vermont | $22.71 | $47,240 | $38,815 | 1,140 |
| Virginia | $21.51 | $44,740 | $36,370 | 16,650 |
| Washington | $28.50 | $59,280 | $48,989 | 19,500 |
| West Virginia | $17.87 | $37,170 | $31,092 | 4,540 |
| Wisconsin | $23.41 | $48,690 | $39,209 | 13,810 |
| Wyoming | $19.67 | $40,910 | $35,051 | 1,040 |
Overtime and pay rules for medical assistants
Medical assistants who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a medical assistant's pay
On the median $45,690, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 14.9% of pay for a single filer: $3,303 of income tax and $3,495 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $29,590, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($2,284 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $274, so it costs about $2,011 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed medical assistants are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Pharmacy Tech | $45,750 | $22 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| EMT | $44,470 | $21.38 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $22 an hour is how much a year.
Medical Assistant salary questions
How much does a medical assistant make?
The median pay is $21.97 an hour, or $45,690 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $36,050 and the top 10% more than $59,310.
How much does a medical assistant make after taxes?
About $38,892 a year, or $1,496 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Alabama, at that state's own median pay, it is about $29,721.
How much does a medical assistant make a month?
About $3,808 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $3,241 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays medical assistants the most?
Washington, with a median of $59,280 a year ($28.50 an hour). Next are Alaska ($52,560) and District of Columbia ($51,040). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
How much does a medical assistant make an hour?
The median is $21.97 an hour. The middle half earn $18.50 to $23.65, and the top 10% more than $28.52.
Do medical assistants get paid overtime?
Medical assistants who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.