California · BLS SOC 31-9092
Medical Assistant salary in California
Median $51,660 · Top 10% earn $73,850+ · Roughly 90,152 workers in California. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
- California median
- $51,660
- $24.84/hr
- Top 10%
- $73,850
- 90th percentile
- Bottom 10%
- $38,440
- Entry-level range
- Real pay
- $45,395
- CoL-adjusted (RPP 113.8)
California pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for medical assistants — $51,660 versus the national median of $42,000. After adjusting for California's high cost of living, the pay edge narrows to about $3,395 above U.S. average buying power. The state employs roughly 90,152 medical assistants.
What drives medical assistant pay in California
California medical assistants earn 23% above the national median, with Bay Area dermatology and specialty practices clearing $55–62K. State has specific MA scope-of-practice rules — verify before enrolling in any out-of-state program.
Top-paying metros in California
California-area metropolitan areas with the highest medical assistant medians.
California metros
10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.
| Rank | Metro | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $58,400 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,100 |
| 3 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $56,300 |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $51,200 |
California ranks #1 of 50 states
Where California sits in the national distribution for medical assistant pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.
| Rank | State | Median | vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California (this page) | $51,660 | — |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $50,820 | −$840 |
| #3 | New York | $50,400 | −$1,260 |
| #4 | Washington | $49,980 | −$1,680 |
Find Medical Assistant programs near you
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Education path for California
The typical path is a postsecondary nondegree certificate (most common); some on-the-job, taking about 9 months. Tuition ranges from $1,200 (community college) to $18,000 (private accelerated). On the California median of $51,660, payback periods are typically 0.9 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.
For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Medical Assistant salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with California selected.
Medical Assistant salary in California — FAQ
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Methodology note
California-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 31-9092: Medical Assistants), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where California's RPP is 113.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.