PayByState

New Jersey · BLS SOC 31-9092

Medical Assistant salary in New Jersey

Median $47,040 · Top 10% earn $64,320+ · Roughly 21,392 workers in New Jersey. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

New Jersey median
$47,040
$22.62/hr
Top 10%
$64,320
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$35,000
Entry-level range
Real pay
$41,481
CoL-adjusted (RPP 113.4)

New Jersey pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for medical assistants — $47,040 versus the national median of $42,000. After adjusting for New Jersey's high cost of living, real purchasing power is actually below the U.S. average — the headline number is misleading. The state employs roughly 21,392 medical assistants.

What drives medical assistant pay in New Jersey

New Jersey 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.

New Jersey ranks #10 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. New Jersey
#9 Connecticut $47,460 +$420
#8 Hawaii $47,460 +$420
#7 Massachusetts $47,460 +$420
#10 New Jersey (this page) $47,040 —
#11 Maryland $46,200 −$840
#12 Minnesota $44,940 −$2,100
#13 Colorado $44,520 −$2,520
See all 50 states →

Find Medical Assistant programs near you

We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.

Compare programs

Sponsored. We may earn a commission if you enroll. Prices and availability vary by school and state.

Education path for New Jersey

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 New Jersey median of $47,040, 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 New Jersey selected.

Medical Assistant salary in New Jersey — FAQ

What is the average medical assistant salary in New Jersey?
The median medical assistant salary in New Jersey is $47,040 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $35,000; the top 10% earn $64,320 or more. About 21,392 people work in this role across the state.
How does New Jersey medical assistant pay compare to the national average?
New Jersey's median of $47,040 is $5,040 above the U.S. national median of $42,000. After adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 113.4), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $41,481.
Is medical assistant a good career in New Jersey?
On the data: New Jersey employs roughly 21,392 medical assistants, with a median wage of $47,040 and the top decile clearing $64,320. 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 New Jersey?
At the New Jersey median of $47,040 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $22.62/hr. The top 10% earn around $30.92/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $16.83/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

New Jersey-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 New Jersey's RPP is 113.4 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.