Medical Assistants pay in California
In California, the median pay for medical assistants is $23.88 an hour ($49,660 a year). About 117,060 people work in this job there.
That is 9% higher than the U.S. median ($45,690). California ranks 6th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for medical assistants in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $18.89 | $39,290 |
| 25% of workers | $22.23 | $46,240 |
| Half of workers (median) | $23.88 | $49,660 |
| 75% of workers | $29.75 | $61,870 |
| 90% of workers | $37.16 | $77,300 |
Medical Assistants pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo | $77,410 | 1,360 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $64,820 | 1,550 |
| Napa | $62,050 | 320 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $61,970 | 7,410 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $61,940 | 6,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $59,790 | 14,320 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $50,680 | 2,020 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $50,090 | 960 |
| Modesto | $49,990 | 1,870 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $49,520 | 850 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $49,510 | 480 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $49,500 | 1,660 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $49,420 | 9,370 |
| Yuba City | $49,410 | 430 |
| Salinas | $48,890 | 1,080 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $47,840 | 1,740 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $47,760 | 39,770 |
| Chico | $47,150 | 770 |
| Visalia | $47,140 | 1,580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $46,700 | 11,280 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $46,560 | 2,340 |
| Fresno | $46,500 | 3,310 |
| Redding | $46,210 | 520 |
| El Centro | $45,290 | 390 |
| Merced | $39,800 | 700 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for medical assistants
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +12.9% over ten years, much faster than average · about 109,700 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $140,270 |
| Nursing Assistants | $47,630 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $79,750 |
| Dental Assistants | $50,110 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,390 |
| Medical Records Specialists | $61,810 |
| Physical Therapist Aides | $38,330 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $78,170 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.