How much does a medical assistant make per hour and per year?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median medical assistant wage at $21.97 an hour, or $45,690 a year, from its May 2025 wage survey. Indeed puts the average base pay at $21.30 an hour, from 97,400 salaries reported by job postings over the past 36 months, updated 12 October 2026.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| BLS median (May 2025) | $21.97 |
| Indeed average (Oct 2026) | $21.30 |
Base: BLS: national Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025. Indeed: 97.4k salaries from job postings, past 36 months, updated 12 Oct 2026. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Indeed Philippines
The two sources measure slightly different things. BLS surveys employers directly across the whole country for one point in time. Indeed averages salary figures stated inside job postings over three years, so older, lower offers are still part of its number. That is a likely reason it sits a little below the BLS figure.
How does medical assistant pay compare with the typical US job?
Below the middle. The median annual wage across every occupation in the US was $50,980 in 2025, so the $45,690 median for medical assistants sits about 10% under the typical job.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Medical assistant | $45,690 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Base: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections, 2025. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Pay below the national median is one side of the trade-off against the shorter 1 to 2 year training path and the 13% projected growth covered in the full guide to becoming a medical assistant. Weigh both before you commit to a program.
Does pay vary by experience or location?
Indeed's reported range runs from $15.05 to $30.13 an hour, which is the spread you would expect across entry-level and experienced roles in lower-paying and higher-paying states and cities. BLS does not publish a state-by-state breakdown on the same page, so check a specific state's wage data before you compare offers in that market.
| Source | Figure | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| BLS, median | $21.97/hr, $45,690/yr | National OEWS survey, May 2025 |
| Indeed, average | $21.30/hr | 97.4k job-posting salaries, past 36 months, updated 12 Oct 2026 |
| Indeed, range | $15.05 to $30.13/hr | Same 97.4k sample, low to high |
What should you do with these numbers?
Use the BLS median as your baseline when an offer does not state a number, and treat anything near or below $15 an hour as the low end of the market, not the norm. Before you accept a role, read the common medical assistant interview questions so a weak interview does not cost you a stronger offer, and check your resume states your clinical skills plainly, since vague resumes are a common reason qualified candidates get passed over for entry roles.