Ohio's average medical assistant salary of $42,610 places it below Illinois ($45,770) and Indiana ($44,500) but above Michigan ($41,550) and Kentucky ($40,940). For employers, this means Ohio is a relatively cost-effective market within the region, though candidates with experience in higher-paying neighboring states may arrive with elevated salary expectations. Anchoring your offer to the Ohio median of $42,810 is a practical starting point for most hires.
Medical assistant salary in Ohio (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in Ohio is $42,610 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $42,810 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Ohio employs 28,950 medical assistants, and the $200 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in Ohio typically earn around $36,050, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $48,560 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in Ohio, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $42,810 |
Average Annual Salary | $42,610 |
vs. National Average | 7.6% below the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 28,950 employed medical assistants across Ohio.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in Ohio
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $36,050 |
25th Percentile | $38,060 |
75th Percentile | $46,270 |
90th Percentile | $48,560 |
When setting an offer for a medical assistant in Ohio, the $38,060 to $46,270 band between the 25th and 75th percentiles covers the majority of the market and gives you a defensible range for most mid-level hires. Candidates with specialized clinical experience or longer tenure will push toward or past the $48,560 mark, so build that flexibility into your compensation structure before you start negotiating.
Medical assistant salary by city in Ohio
City | Average Annual Salary |
Cincinnati | $43,440 |
Columbus | $43,420 |
Toledo | $42,510 |
Location-based pay differences in Ohio are narrow, which means your compensation budget does not need to shift dramatically depending on which city you are hiring in. Cincinnati leads at $43,440 and Toledo sits at the lower end at $42,510, a spread of just $930. Offers anchored near the statewide average of $42,610 will remain competitive across all three markets.
How Ohio compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Ohio | $42,610 | $42,810 |
Illinois | $45,770 | $46,090 |
Indiana | $44,500 | $45,110 |
Pennsylvania | $43,500 | $43,920 |
Michigan | $41,550 | $39,870 |
Kentucky | $40,940 | $39,270 |
Ohio sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-effective state to hire medical assistants compared to Illinois and Indiana but slightly above Michigan and Kentucky. Illinois employers pay a mean of $45,770 versus Ohio's $42,610, so Ohio-based organizations have a modest cost advantage when competing for talent regionally. Pennsylvania is the closest peer at $43,500, meaning compensation expectations across those two states are broadly similar.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Ohio
How does Ohio compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in Ohio?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Ohio earn $48,560 per year. Candidates who reach this level typically bring specialized clinical skills or significant tenure, so expect to pay toward or above this figure when competing for senior talent. Building a compensation band that extends to at least $48,560 gives you room to attract experienced candidates without overextending your budget on every hire.
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in Ohio?
The salary range for a medical assistant in Ohio runs from $36,050 at the 10th percentile to $48,560 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $38,060 and $46,270, which covers the 25th through 75th percentile band. Use that middle band as your primary budgeting range and adjust up or down based on the seniority and specialization of the specific role you are filling.
What is the average medical assistant salary in Ohio?
The average medical assistant salary in Ohio is $42,610 per year, with a median of $42,810. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it is less sensitive to a small number of very high-paying roles at the top of the market. Plan your initial offer around the median and use the percentile data to calibrate adjustments for experience and specialization.
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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