Medical assistants in New Jersey earn a median of $47,210 per year and a mean of $47,400. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it reflects the midpoint of the actual workforce rather than being pulled by a small number of higher-paid roles. When setting an offer, use the median as your anchor and adjust up based on the candidate's experience and the specialization your role requires.
Medical assistant salary in New Jersey (2026)
In this article
The average medical assistant salary in New Jersey is $47,400 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $47,210 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. New Jersey employs 20,330 medical assistants, and the $190 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in New Jersey typically earn around $37,010, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed $58,070. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in New Jersey, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $47,210 |
Average Annual Salary | $47,400 |
vs. National Average | 2.8% above the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 20,330 employed medical assistants across New Jersey.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next registered nurse hire.
Medical assistant salary percentiles in New Jersey
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $37,010 |
25th Percentile | $42,150 |
75th Percentile | $49,920 |
90th Percentile | $58,070 |
Employers setting an offer for a medical assistant in New Jersey should expect most candidates to fall between $42,150 and $49,920, which covers the middle half of the market. Roles requiring more specialized clinical skills or supervisory responsibilities can push compensation toward the $58,070 level that senior specialists in New Jersey typically reach or exceed.
Medical assistant salary by city in New Jersey
City | Average Annual Salary |
Newark | $49,590 |
Trenton | $46,280 |
Camden | $45,730 |
Atlantic City | $44,800 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a medical assistant in New Jersey, so employers should adjust their budgets based on where the role is based. The Newark metro pays an average of $49,590, which is $4,790 more per year than Atlantic City at $44,800. If you are hiring in the Newark area, plan for a higher compensation floor than you would need in southern or coastal markets.
How New Jersey compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
New Jersey | $47,400 | $47,210 |
Massachusetts | $51,850 | $49,460 |
New York | $48,750 | $48,000 |
Connecticut | $48,610 | $47,430 |
Maryland | $46,390 | $46,410 |
Pennsylvania | $43,500 | $43,920 |
New Jersey sits in the middle of the regional market, which means employers here face real competition from higher-paying neighboring states when recruiting experienced candidates. Massachusetts leads the region at a mean of $51,850, and both New York at $48,750 and Connecticut at $48,610 pay above New Jersey's mean of $47,400. Pennsylvania at $43,500 is the only nearby state where compensation expectations run meaningfully lower, so New Jersey employers should not assume they can underprice the market without losing candidates to New York or New England.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in New Jersey
How much do you make as a medical assistant in NJ?
How does New Jersey compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
New Jersey's mean of $47,400 sits above the national mean of $46,120 by 2.8%, but it trails Massachusetts at $51,850, New York at $48,750, and Connecticut at $48,610. This means candidates in New Jersey may have realistic expectations shaped by higher-paying markets nearby. Employers should factor in that competition when deciding where to position their offer within the local range.
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in New Jersey?
The 90th percentile for medical assistants in New Jersey is $58,070, which is the level that senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. Roles that require advanced clinical skills, supervisory responsibilities, or specialized practice settings are most likely to command compensation at or above this threshold. Budget accordingly if the position you are filling carries those characteristics.
What is the average medical assistant salary in New Jersey?
The average medical assistant salary in New Jersey is $47,400 per year, compared to a national mean of $46,120. The median of $47,210 is very close to the mean, which tells you the distribution is relatively tight and that most candidates you interview will have salary expectations in a similar range. Use the $42,150 to $49,920 band covering the 25th to 75th percentile as a practical budgeting range for most hires.
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.
Author
The Rippling Team
Global HR, IT, and Finance know-how directly from the Rippling team.
Hubs
Explore more
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in Connecticut (2026)
Connecticut medical assistants earn a median $47,430 per year. See salary by city, percentile, and how CT compares to neighboring states.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in Massachusetts (2026)
Find 2026 medical assistant salary data for Massachusetts, including a $49,460 median, city breakdowns, and percentile ranges to guide competitive hiring offers.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in New York (2026)
Medical assistant salaries in New York average $48,750/year. Compare pay by city, percentile, and state to set competitive offers for your next hire.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in Rhode Island (2026)
Find 2026 medical assistant salary data for Rhode Island — median $47,190, city breakdowns, percentile ranges, and how RI compares to neighboring states.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in New Hampshire (2026)
Medical assistant salaries in New Hampshire average $49,390 — 7.1% above the national mean. See pay by city, percentile, and how NH compares to nearby states.
Jul 14, 2026
|
3 min
Medical assistant salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
Find 2026 medical assistant salary data for Pennsylvania, including a $43,920 median, city breakdowns, and percentile ranges to guide your hiring budget.
Jul 14, 2026
|
3 min
Medical assistant salary in Maine (2026)
Maine medical assistants earn a median $47,580 and average $49,000. See salary percentiles, city breakdowns, and regional comparisons to budget your next hire.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in Delaware (2026)
Find out what medical assistants earn in Delaware — median $44,490, entry-level to $57,280 — plus city breakdowns and regional comparisons to budget smarter.
See Rippling in action
Increase savings, automate busy work, and make better decisions by managing HR, IT, and Finance in one place.