California's mean medical assistant salary of $55,100 sits above most comparable states, though Washington leads the group at $58,590. Texas sits at the low end of the comparison at $41,240, meaning California employers pay roughly $13,860 more on average than their Texas counterparts. If you are benchmarking offers across state lines, build state-specific pay ranges rather than applying a single figure.
Medical assistant salary in California (2026)
In this article
The average medical assistant salary in California is $55,100 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $49,660 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. California employs 117,060 medical assistants, and the $5,440 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in California typically earn around $39,290, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $77,300 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in California, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $49,660 |
Average Annual Salary | $55,100 |
vs. National Average | 19.5% above the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 117,060 employed medical assistants across California.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in California
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $39,290 |
25th Percentile | $46,240 |
75th Percentile | $61,870 |
90th Percentile | $77,300 |
Employers hiring entry-level medical assistants in California should expect offers in the $39,290 to $46,240 range, while experienced candidates with specialized skills will typically expect compensation closer to $61,870 or above. Senior specialists in California commonly reach or exceed $77,300, so roles requiring advanced clinical experience or specialty knowledge warrant a budget anchored toward the upper end of this range.
Medical assistant salary by city in California
City | Average Annual Salary |
San Jose | $65,360 |
San Francisco | $63,330 |
Sacramento | $61,940 |
San Diego | $53,430 |
Los Angeles | $52,460 |
Where you hire within California will meaningfully affect your compensation budget for this role. San Jose commands the highest average at $65,360, while Los Angeles sits at $52,460, a difference of nearly $13,000 per year for the same position. Employers hiring across multiple California locations should build location-based pay tiers rather than applying a single statewide figure.
How California compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
California | $55,100 | $49,660 |
Washington | $58,590 | $59,290 |
Colorado | $49,490 | $48,400 |
New York | $48,750 | $48,000 |
Nevada | $44,170 | $45,200 |
Texas | $41,240 | $39,520 |
California employers should expect to pay more for medical assistants than most peer states, though Washington runs slightly higher with a mean of $58,590 and a median of $59,290. Colorado and New York sit close to each other in the $48,000 to $49,490 range, while Nevada and Texas come in noticeably lower. If your organization operates across multiple states, these differences justify building state-specific pay bands rather than using a single national benchmark.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in California
How does California compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in California?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in California earn $77,300 per year. Candidates at this level typically bring specialized clinical skills, significant experience, or work in high-cost metro markets like San Jose or San Francisco. Budget toward this figure when competing for senior talent in specialty practices or high-demand urban markets.
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in California?
The salary range for a medical assistant in California runs from $39,290 at the 10th percentile to $77,300 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $46,240 and $61,870, which covers the 25th to 75th percentile range. Use the seniority and specialization of your open role to determine where within this range your offer should land.
What is the average medical assistant salary in California?
The average medical assistant salary in California is $55,100 per year, which runs 19.5% above the national mean of $46,120. The median of $49,660 is a more grounded benchmark for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of higher-compensated roles pulls the average upward. For most open positions, anchoring your initial offer near the median and adjusting for experience will keep you competitive without overpaying.
Medical Assistant salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 31-9092 (Medical Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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