PayByState

Massachusetts · BLS SOC 31-9092

Medical Assistant salary in Massachusetts

Median $47,460 · Top 10% earn $65,170+ · Roughly 19,100 workers in Massachusetts. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Massachusetts median
$47,460
$22.82/hr
Top 10%
$65,170
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$35,310
Entry-level range
Real pay
$42,911
CoL-adjusted (RPP 110.6)

Massachusetts pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for medical assistants — $47,460 versus the national median of $42,000. After adjusting for Massachusetts's high cost of living, the pay edge narrows to about $911 above U.S. average buying power. The state employs roughly 19,100 medical assistants.

What drives medical assistant pay in Massachusetts

Massachusetts pays close to the U.S. median for medical assistants. The state's pay landscape reflects typical national patterns — hospital and academic medical center roles paying above private practice, specialty credentials adding meaningful premiums, and metropolitan areas paying above rural ones.

Top-paying metros in Massachusetts

Massachusetts-area metropolitan areas with the highest medical assistant medians.

Massachusetts metros

10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.

Rank Metro Median
1 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $49,600

Massachusetts ranks #7 of 50 states

Where Massachusetts sits in the national distribution for medical assistant pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. Massachusetts
#6 Oregon $47,880 +$420
#5 Alaska $48,720 +$1,260
#4 Washington $49,980 +$2,520
#7 Massachusetts (this page) $47,460 —
#10 New Jersey $47,040 −$420
#11 Maryland $46,200 −$1,260
#12 Minnesota $44,940 −$2,520
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Massachusetts

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 Massachusetts median of $47,460, payback periods are typically 1.2 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 Massachusetts selected.

Medical Assistant salary in Massachusetts — FAQ

What is the average medical assistant salary in Massachusetts?
The median medical assistant salary in Massachusetts is $47,460 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $35,310; the top 10% earn $65,170 or more. About 19,100 people work in this role across the state.
How does Massachusetts medical assistant pay compare to the national average?
Massachusetts's median of $47,460 is $5,460 above the U.S. national median of $42,000. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 110.6), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $42,911.
Where does Massachusetts pay medical assistants the most?
Top-paying metros in Massachusetts include Boston-Cambridge-Newton at $49,600. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.
Is medical assistant a good career in Massachusetts?
On the data: Massachusetts employs roughly 19,100 medical assistants, with a median wage of $47,460 and the top decile clearing $65,170. The role is projected to grow +14% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for medical assistants in Massachusetts?
At the Massachusetts median of $47,460 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $22.82/hr. The top 10% earn around $31.33/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $16.98/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Massachusetts-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 Massachusetts's RPP is 110.6 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.