Medical assistants in New York earn a median of $48,000 per year and a mean of $48,750. 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. Plan your initial offer around the median and adjust upward based on the candidate's experience and the specialization your role requires.
Medical assistant salary in New York (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in New York is $48,750 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $48,000 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. New York employs 40,710 medical assistants, and the $750 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in New York typically earn around $37,280, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $59,480 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in New York, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $48,000 |
Average Annual Salary | $48,750 |
vs. National Average | 5.7% above the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 40,710 employed medical assistants across New York.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in New York
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $37,280 |
25th Percentile | $43,600 |
75th Percentile | $55,120 |
90th Percentile | $59,480 |
Employers hiring entry-level medical assistants in New York can anchor offers near $37,280, while roles requiring more experience or specialization will need to reach toward $55,120 to $59,480 to attract qualified candidates. Setting your offer below the 25th percentile of $43,600 will put you at a disadvantage in most local markets.
Medical assistant salary by city in New York
City | Average Annual Salary |
New York City | $49,590 |
Buffalo | $44,580 |
Syracuse | $44,130 |
Albany | $44,120 |
Rochester | $43,040 |
Employers hiring outside New York City can expect to pay meaningfully less than those competing in the metro market. New York City averages $49,590 per year compared to $43,040 in Rochester, a difference that gives upstate employers some budget flexibility when setting offers. If you operate across multiple locations, location-specific pay bands will serve you better than a single statewide figure.
How New York compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
New York | $48,750 | $48,000 |
California | $55,100 | $49,660 |
Massachusetts | $51,850 | $49,460 |
New Jersey | $47,400 | $47,210 |
Pennsylvania | $43,500 | $43,920 |
Texas | $41,240 | $39,520 |
New York sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a moderately priced state for medical assistant hiring compared to its neighbors. California and Massachusetts both carry higher compensation expectations, with averages of $55,100 and $51,850 respectively, while New Jersey at $47,400 and Pennsylvania at $43,500 offer lower cost structures. Employers in New York should expect to pay more than Texas or Pennsylvania but can budget below California-level rates.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in New York
How much does a medical assistant in NY make?
How does New York compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
New York's average of $48,750 places it above Pennsylvania ($43,500) and Texas ($41,240) but below Massachusetts ($51,850) and California ($55,100). For employers with operations in multiple states, New York represents a mid-range compensation market. New Jersey at $47,400 is the closest peer, so cross-border hiring between the two states carries minimal pay adjustment risk.
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in New York?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in New York earn $59,480 per year. Roles that reach this level typically involve specialized clinical settings, additional certifications, or significant tenure. When competing for senior talent, budget toward or above this threshold to remain a credible option for experienced candidates.
What is the average medical assistant salary in New York?
The average medical assistant salary in New York is $48,750 per year, which sits 5.7% above the national mean of $46,120. That premium reflects the higher cost of labor in the state, particularly in the New York City metro area where the average reaches $49,590. Use the statewide figure as a baseline and adjust by location and seniority when building your compensation offer.
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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