Medical Assistant Salary in US and How to Increase It

By | July 14, 2023
Medical Assistant Salary in US
The highest paying States for medical assistant salary in the US include California, Massachusetts, and New York.

The medical assistant salary in US is around $42,577 annually.

The top paying states are California, Massachusetts, and New York, while the best paying companies are BayCare Health System, Adventist Health, and Kaiser Permanente in that order.

Medical Assistant Salary in US States

Here is salary information for medical assistants in the States of US:

StateHourly SalaryAnnual Salary
1.Alabama$19.02$44,277
2.Alaska$20.30$47,263
3.Arizona$20.07$46,737
4.Arkansas$18.71$43,557
5.California$21.77$50,684
6.Colorado$20.90$48,666
7.Connecticut$20.93$48,723
8.Delaware$19.77$46,030
9.Florida$19.21$44,737
10.Georgia$19.74$45,963
11.Hawaii$19.62$45,687
12.Idaho$18.60$43,303
13.Illinois$20.55$47,846
14.Indiana$19.11$44,487
15.Iowa$19.24$44,799
16.Kansas$18.91$44,036
17.Kentucky$18.71$43,569
18.Louisiana$19.01$44,267
19.Maine$19.47$45,335
20.Maryland$20.89$48,649
21.Massachusetts$21.65$50,410
22.Michigan$19.59$45,614
23.Minnesota$20.35$47,374
24.Mississippi$18.16$42,271
25.Missouri$19.85$46,223
26.Montana$17.46$42,980
27.Nebraska$19.19$44,690
28.Nevada$19.83$46,161
29.New Hampshire$19.59$45,555
30.New Jersey$21.09$48,996
31.New Mexico$19.34$45,033
32.New York$21.52$50,093
33.North Carolina$19.62$45,682
34.North Dakota$19.41$45,192
35.Ohio$19.36$45,080
36.Oklahoma$18.67$43,465
37.Oregon$20.34$47,364
38.Pennsylvania$19.94$46,415
39.Rhode Island$20.05$46,688
40.South Carolina$19.12$44,505
41.South Dakota$18.67$43,462
42.Tennessee$19.31$44,953
43.Texas$20.00$46,563
44.Utah$19.29$44,909
45.Vermont$19.13$44,534
46.Virginia$20.57$47,904
47.Washington$21.35$49,709
48.West Virginia$18.71$43,568
49.Wisconsin$19.49$45,372
50.Wyoming$18.95$44,113
Medical assistant salaries across the cities of the United States

States with Highest Medical Assistant Salary in US

Here are the top 10 paying States for medical assistants in the US:

 CityHourly SalaryAnnual Salary
1.California$21.77$50,684
2.Massachusetts$21.65$50,410
3.New York$21.52$50,093
4.Washington$21.35$49,709
5.New Jersey$21.09$48,996
6.Connecticut$20.93$48,723
7.Colorado$20.90$48,666
8.Maryland$20.89$48,649
9.Virginia$20.57$47,904
10.Illinois$20.55$47,846
States that pay the highest salaries to medical assistants in the US.

Skill-based Medical Assistant Salary in US

Apt skills and certifications will enable a medical assistant earn higher than others who don’t have these proficiencies. Some of the skills the industry values more include:

  1. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  2. Medical terminology
  3. Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
  4. Blood glucose monitoring
  5. EKG interpretation.

Experience-based Medical Assistant Salary in US

Experience will help you earn higher than others as a medical assistant in the US who don’t have the same number of years of experience.

A medical assistant in the US with more experience like 10 years or more may be able to earn $53,966 than a new employee with less than one year ($42,795).

10 Companies with Highest Medical Assistant Salary in US

Here are the top 10 paying companies for medical assistants in US:

 CompanyHourly SalaryAnnual Salary
1.BayCare Health System$24.27$56,509
2.Adventist Health$23.63$55,022
3.Kaiser Permanente$23.60$54,943
4.UCHealth$23.07$53,706
5.Action Urgent Care$22.85$53,204
6.Family Health Centers of San Diego$22.48$52,343
7.MultiCare Health System$22.32$51,968
8.NYU Langone Health$22.18$51,650
9.Virginia Mason Franciscan Health$21.12$49,171
10.Crystal Run Healthcare$20.95$48,786
Companies that pay the highest salaries to medical assistants in the US.

10 Highest Paying Medical Assistant Jobs in US

Here is a list of the best paying medical assistants Jobs in US:

  1. Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist; $33,674
  2. Medical Assistant/Biller; $34,204
  3. Medical Assistant Instructor; $40,698
  4. Medical Research Assistant; $40,303
  5. Lead Medical Assistant; $38,303
  6. Student Medical Assistant; $37,781
  7. Clinical Medical Assistant; $37,052
  8. Registered Medical Assistant;  $36,580
  9. Certified Medical Assistant; $36,382
  10. Medical Assistant Externship; $35,460

More Benefits for Medical Assistants in US

In the US, employers may offer benefits to medical assistants, such as:

  1. Employee Discounts

Here is how this benefit works, medical assistants earn money if they buy from the company store, or get discounts from pharmacies and manufacturers for being an employee.

The medical assistant can get discounts on things like: uniforms, exam equipment, office supplies and equipment, and copiers and printers.

2. Employee Stock Option Plan

When a medical assistant is part of this plan, he or she can buy stock in their employer’s company at a discount rate.

In addition, it is likely that the stock will go up in value as time goes on. The medical assistant can sell it later and make a substantial profit.

3. 401(k) Plans

The employer can also sponsor a 401(k) plan that allows the medical assistant put money aside for retirement.

Employer contributions to this plan are usually matched by the medical assistant.

4. Employee Vacation, Holiday, Sick Leave and Vacation Pay

Vacations, holidays and sick leave are important to medical assistants and they may want their employer to pay them so they can take off work when they need or want to.

What Related Job Titles to Medical Assistants Earn in US

Here are earnings of related job titles to medical assistants in US:

  • Phlebotomist; $50,368
  • Patient Care Technician; $35,160
  • Medical Scribe; $37,038
  • Patient Care Coordinator; $67,490
  • Medical Receptionist; $37,850

Medical Assistants Salary and Job Outlook in US

Medical assistant employment is expected to expand 16 percent from 2021 to 2031, substantially faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On average, 123,000 jobs for medical assistants are expected per year during the next decade.

How to Increase your Pay as a Medical Assistants in US

Here are several ways that you can help to increase your pay as a medical assistant in the U:.

  1. Update your skills and certifications

Medical assistants that have certain skills and certifications will be able to earn more than other medical assistants.

It is good to update these skills and certifications because they are always important.

2. Increase your experience

The more experience you have, the higher you will be paid as a medical assistant in the US.

There are several ways that you can gain work experience, such as volunteering at a clinic, joining the military or getting an internship while you are in college.

3. Switch to another area of medical assisting

There are several areas of medical assisting that you can focus on. Switches to these fields can help you increase your pay:

  • Phlebotomy
  • Clinical Medical Assistants
  • Emergency room medical assistants
  • Operating room medical assistants
  • Intensive care medical assistants.

4. Get a degree

Degrees help you to increase your pay as a medical assistant in the US because employers consider them to be more reliable and better trained for the job.

One degree which is in demand is Masters in Nursing.

More Career Opportunities for Medical Assistants in US

If you are looking for more career opportunities as a medical assistant in the United States, you can look at similar or related fields like:

  1. Phlebotomist

A phlebotomist is a medical assistant who performs venipuncture and heavy blood draws. They are also responsible for collecting and labeling samples and medical tests for lab technicians.

2. Medical Records Technician

A medical records technician is a medical assistant who designs and develops a patient’s electronic medical record.

They ensure that current medical information is stored electronically and that patients’ records are fully organized.

They update the patient’s record in accordance with federal regulations.

3. Surgical Technician

A surgical technician is a medical assistant who is specially trained to assist in surgical procedures.

They work with the physician, surgeon, nurse and anesthesiologist during surgery to help them correctly operate the surgery and do their job correctly.

4. Certified Nursing Assistant or CNA

A Certified Nursing Assistant or CNA is a medical assistant who is specially trained to assist an RN in helping patients during different procedures.

They help patients while they are in their beds, with walking and with personal hygiene.

They also assist the RN in giving medications and check patients’ vital signs.

Conclusion

The medical field is growing and provides many possibilities for a medical assistant to increase his or her salary in the US.

When you update your skills and certifications as a medical assistant, you can increase your salary.

Also, switching to other areas of medical assisting is another way that you can increase your salary in the United States.

Informational sources: indeed.com, bls.gov, and salary.com.