Pennsylvania's average medical assistant salary of $43,500 falls below most of its Northeast neighbors, making it a relatively cost-effective state for employers hiring in this role. New York leads the regional peer group at $48,750, followed by New Jersey at $47,400 and Maryland at $46,390. If you operate across multiple states, you will need separate pay bands for each market rather than applying Pennsylvania figures elsewhere.
Medical assistant salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in Pennsylvania is $43,500 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $43,920 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Pennsylvania employs 23,050 medical assistants, and the $420 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in Pennsylvania typically earn around $36,810, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $48,500 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in Pennsylvania, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $43,920 |
Average Annual Salary | $43,500 |
vs. National Average | 5.7% below the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 23,050 employed medical assistants across Pennsylvania.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in Pennsylvania
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $36,810 |
25th Percentile | $38,950 |
75th Percentile | $46,490 |
90th Percentile | $48,500 |
When setting an offer for a medical assistant in Pennsylvania, the $38,950 to $46,490 band covering the 25th through 75th percentiles represents the range where most candidates will have realistic expectations. Roles requiring more specialized clinical skills or supervisory responsibilities will push compensation toward the $48,500 mark that senior specialists in Pennsylvania typically reach.
Medical assistant salary by city in Pennsylvania
City | Average Annual Salary |
Philadelphia | $45,730 |
Allentown | $43,850 |
Harrisburg | $43,300 |
Scranton | $42,570 |
Pittsburgh | $42,140 |
Employers hiring in Philadelphia should budget noticeably more than those hiring in Pittsburgh, since location alone accounts for a $3,590 difference in average annual pay for the same role. Philadelphia comes in at $45,730 versus Pittsburgh at $42,140, so a multi-location employer will need city-specific pay bands rather than a single statewide figure.
How Pennsylvania compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Pennsylvania | $43,500 | $43,920 |
New York | $48,750 | $48,000 |
New Jersey | $47,400 | $47,210 |
Maryland | $46,390 | $46,410 |
Virginia | $44,050 | $44,740 |
Ohio | $42,610 | $42,810 |
Pennsylvania is a cost-effective market for medical assistant hiring relative to most of its Northeast neighbors, which matters when you are building a multi-state compensation strategy. New York averages $48,750 and New Jersey averages $47,400, both well above Pennsylvania's $43,500 mean. Ohio is the only comparison state that comes in lower, at $42,610, so Pennsylvania sits near the middle of this regional peer group.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Pennsylvania
How does Pennsylvania compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in Pennsylvania?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Pennsylvania earn $48,500 per year. When competing for senior or highly specialized candidates, plan for offers at or above that threshold, since the most experienced talent in the state commands compensation at that level. The statewide mean of $43,500 sits below this figure, so the top-earning segment is a distinct tier you should budget for separately.
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in Pennsylvania?
The full documented range runs from $36,810 at the 10th percentile to $48,500 at the 90th percentile for medical assistants in Pennsylvania. The middle of the market, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, spans $38,950 to $46,490, which is where most competitive offers will land. Use the seniority and clinical specialization of the specific role you are filling to determine where within that band to anchor your offer.
What is the average medical assistant salary in Pennsylvania?
The average medical assistant salary in Pennsylvania is $43,500 per year, with a median of $43,920. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it is less affected by a small number of high-earning outliers at the top of the market. For budgeting purposes, start with the median and adjust up or down based on the experience level and location of the role you are filling.
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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