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Best states for a medical assistant
Quoted expert
Dr. Linda Roney
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for medical assistants in the United States. Medical assistant positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for medical assistants.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of medical assistants in America is $43,000.
We figured that the best places for medical assistant jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Washington is the best state, and Anchorage is the city with the highest pay for medical assistants.
10 best states for medical assistants in 2025
1. Washington
Total medical assistant jobs: 2,682 Average annual salary: $45,025 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.292. Massachusetts
Total medical assistant jobs: 3,123 Average annual salary: $39,735 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.193. Minnesota
Total medical assistant jobs: 2,322 Average annual salary: $38,059 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.234. Alaska
Total medical assistant jobs: 211 Average annual salary: $46,918 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 0.895. New Hampshire
Total medical assistant jobs: 630 Average annual salary: $36,601 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.266. Wisconsin
Total medical assistant jobs: 1,844 Average annual salary: $36,240 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.177. Rhode Island
Total medical assistant jobs: 379 Average annual salary: $37,330 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.098. Oregon
Total medical assistant jobs: 997 Average annual salary: $42,184 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 0.849. Connecticut
Total medical assistant jobs: 1,273 Average annual salary: $37,024 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.3510. Iowa
Total medical assistant jobs: 1,042 Average annual salary: $35,614 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
Medical assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a medical assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a medical assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $45,025 | $36,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,682 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $39,735 | $31,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,123 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $38,059 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,322 |
| 4 | Alaska | $46,918 | $41,000 | 739,795 | 211 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $36,601 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 630 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $36,240 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,844 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $37,330 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 379 |
| 8 | Oregon | $42,184 | $33,000 | 4,142,776 | 997 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $37,024 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,273 |
| 10 | Iowa | $35,614 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,042 |
| 11 | Illinois | $36,360 | $29,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,426 |
| 12 | Michigan | $33,979 | $27,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,527 |
| 13 | Arizona | $35,359 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,740 |
| 14 | Vermont | $36,062 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 196 |
| 15 | Maine | $33,983 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 612 |
| 16 | Indiana | $33,203 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,586 |
| 17 | Idaho | $34,346 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 526 |
| 18 | New York | $36,678 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,798 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $35,204 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 216 |
| 20 | Colorado | $36,240 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,667 |
| 21 | Montana | $34,360 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 336 |
| 22 | California | $40,210 | $31,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,933 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $38,808 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 204 |
| 24 | Utah | $34,164 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 788 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $33,490 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 606 |
| 26 | Maryland | $34,644 | $27,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,920 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $39,641 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 228 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $34,152 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 107 |
| 29 | Ohio | $32,021 | $25,000 | 11,658,609 | 3,165 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $32,310 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,823 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $34,881 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,999 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $31,411 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,245 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $32,506 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 242 |
| 34 | Nevada | $33,779 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 458 |
| 35 | Missouri | $32,633 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,668 |
| 36 | Kansas | $31,891 | $25,000 | 2,913,123 | 907 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $33,662 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 420 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $32,548 | $25,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,704 |
| 39 | Delaware | $33,136 | $26,000 | 961,939 | 312 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $31,550 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,477 |
| 41 | Florida | $30,960 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 5,916 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $29,839 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 824 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $26,886 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 617 |
| 44 | Georgia | $31,004 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,075 |
| 45 | Texas | $31,744 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,397 |
| 46 | Virginia | $32,184 | $25,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,078 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $30,226 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,129 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $29,732 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 771 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $30,151 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 447 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $28,417 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 901 |
| 51 | Alabama | $27,203 | $21,000 | 4,874,747 | 969 |
Highest paying states for medical assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Medical Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $45,025 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $39,735 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $38,059 |
| 4 | Alaska | $46,918 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $36,601 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $36,240 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $37,330 |
| 8 | Oregon | $42,184 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $37,024 |
| 10 | Iowa | $35,614 |
| 11 | Illinois | $36,360 |
| 12 | Michigan | $33,979 |
| 13 | Arizona | $35,359 |
| 14 | Vermont | $36,062 |
| 15 | Maine | $33,983 |
| 16 | Indiana | $33,203 |
| 17 | Idaho | $34,346 |
| 18 | New York | $36,678 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $35,204 |
| 20 | Colorado | $36,240 |
| 21 | Montana | $34,360 |
| 22 | California | $40,210 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $38,808 |
| 24 | Utah | $34,164 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $33,490 |
| 26 | Maryland | $34,644 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $39,641 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $34,152 |
| 29 | Ohio | $32,021 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $32,310 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $34,881 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $31,411 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $32,506 |
| 34 | Nevada | $33,779 |
| 35 | Missouri | $32,633 |
| 36 | Kansas | $31,891 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $33,662 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $32,548 |
| 39 | Delaware | $33,136 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $31,550 |
| 41 | Florida | $30,960 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $29,839 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $26,886 |
| 44 | Georgia | $31,004 |
| 45 | Texas | $31,744 |
| 46 | Virginia | $32,184 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $30,226 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $29,732 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $30,151 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $28,417 |
| 51 | Alabama | $27,203 |
Expert opinions on the best states for medical assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for medical assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Linda Roney
Associate Professor, Fairfield University
There is a significant need for nurses across the country, in most settings.
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Updated January 8, 2025