Medical Assistant Salary By State: Highest-Paid Medical Assistants by State [2026]
Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest insights on medical assistant salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Alaska offers the highest medical assistant salary at $46,918.
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West Virginia has the lowest medical assistant salary at $26,886.
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The national average salary for medical assistants is $34,900.
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The national hourly pay for medical assistants stands at $16.78.
For further details on our specific methodology, please click here.
Background
In numerous surveys conducted across various demographics, salary remains the most crucial factor for job seekers, particularly for those asking, “How much do medical assistants earn in my area?”
While specific salaries can vary based on location, experience, and healthcare setting, robust data is available on average medical assistant salaries by state, categorized by experience levels. These averages offer a fundamental guideline on what to expect earnings-wise.
As of 2026, Alaska ranks as the state with the highest average salary for medical assistants.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for medical assistant salaries:
Let’s delve into the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Medical Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Medical Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $46,918 | $41,000 | $52,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $45,025 | $36,000 | $55,000 |
| 3 | Oregon | $42,184 | $33,000 | $52,000 |
| 4 | California | $40,210 | $31,000 | $51,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $39,735 | $31,000 | $49,000 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $38,808 | $32,000 | $46,000 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $38,059 | $30,000 | $46,000 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $37,330 | $29,000 | $47,000 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $37,024 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 10 | New York | $36,678 | $28,000 | $46,000 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $36,601 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 12 | Illinois | $36,360 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $36,240 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 14 | Colorado | $36,240 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 15 | Vermont | $36,062 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 16 | Iowa | $35,614 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 17 | Arizona | $35,359 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $35,204 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $34,881 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 20 | Maryland | $34,644 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 21 | Montana | $34,360 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 22 | Idaho | $34,346 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 23 | Utah | $34,164 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $34,152 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 25 | Maine | $33,983 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 26 | Michigan | $33,979 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 27 | Nevada | $33,779 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $33,662 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $33,490 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 30 | Indiana | $33,203 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 31 | Delaware | $33,136 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 32 | Missouri | $32,633 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $32,548 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $32,506 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $32,310 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 36 | Virginia | $32,184 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 37 | Ohio | $32,021 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 38 | Kansas | $31,891 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 39 | Texas | $31,744 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $31,550 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $31,411 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 42 | Georgia | $31,004 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 43 | Florida | $30,960 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $30,226 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $30,151 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $29,839 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $29,732 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $28,417 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 49 | Alabama | $27,203 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $26,886 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
Methodology: Medical Assistant Salary By State
To gain a clearer understanding of medical assistant salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reliable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average of these figures to produce an accurate estimate of salaries for medical assistants in each state.
We rank each state based on these average annual salary figures, identifying the state with the highest average salary for medical assistants.
Medical Assistant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for medical assistants?
The highest-paying state for medical assistants is Alaska, with an average annual salary of $46,918.
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What city pays medical assistants the most?
Vancouver, WA offers the highest pay for medical assistants, with an average salary of $45,301 annually.
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What is the lowest-paying state for medical assistants?
The state with the lowest average salary for medical assistants is West Virginia, at $26,886 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
