The average medical assistant salary in Rhode Island is $47,550 per year, with a median of $47,190. Certification typically positions a candidate above the entry-level range, so budgeting closer to the $45,370 to $48,630 band that covers the middle 50% of earners is a practical starting point for certified hires.
Medical assistant salary in Rhode Island (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in Rhode Island is $47,550 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $47,190 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Rhode Island employs 3,210 medical assistants, and the $360 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in Rhode Island typically earn around $39,280, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed $56,840. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for your next medical assistant hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $47,190 |
Average Annual Salary | $47,550 |
vs. National Average | 3.1% above the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 3,210 employed medical assistants across Rhode Island.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in Rhode Island
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $39,280 |
25th Percentile | $45,370 |
75th Percentile | $48,630 |
90th Percentile | $56,840 |
Most medical assistant offers in Rhode Island will land between $45,370 and $48,630, which means the middle of the market is fairly compressed and small differences in experience or specialization can shift a candidate's expectations noticeably. Roles requiring broader clinical skills or supervisory responsibilities can push compensation toward the $56,840 level that senior specialists in Rhode Island typically reach.
Medical assistant salary by city in Rhode Island
City | Average Annual Salary |
Boston | $53,270 |
Providence | $47,260 |
Employers hiring in the Providence metro can expect compensation expectations to align closely with the statewide average, while roles that draw from the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua labor market carry a meaningfully higher price point. The Boston metro average of $53,270 sits $6,010 above Providence's $47,260, so if your facility competes for candidates who could work in either market, you may need to adjust your offer accordingly.
How Rhode Island compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Rhode Island | $47,550 | $47,190 |
Massachusetts | $51,850 | $49,460 |
New York | $48,750 | $48,000 |
Connecticut | $48,610 | $47,430 |
New Jersey | $47,400 | $47,210 |
Pennsylvania | $43,500 | $43,920 |
Rhode Island sits in the middle of the Northeast peer group, making it a moderately priced market for medical assistant hiring compared to neighbors like Massachusetts and New York. Massachusetts commands the highest average at $51,850, while Pennsylvania comes in lowest at $43,500, giving Rhode Island employers a useful benchmark when evaluating whether their offers are competitive without overpaying relative to the regional norm.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Rhode Island
How much does a certified medical assistant make in Rhode Island?
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in Rhode Island?
The salary range for a medical assistant in Rhode Island runs from $39,280 at the 10th percentile to $56,840 at the 90th percentile. For most hiring decisions, the $45,370 to $48,630 range covering the 25th to 75th percentile reflects where the bulk of offers will land, and you should move toward the upper end when filling roles that require broader clinical skills or supervisory duties.
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in Rhode Island?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Rhode Island earn $56,840 per year. Senior specialists with advanced clinical responsibilities or supervisory roles are the candidates most likely to reach or exceed that threshold, so factor that figure into your budget when competing for experienced talent.
How does Rhode Island compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
Rhode Island's average of $47,550 places it above New Jersey ($47,400) and Pennsylvania ($43,500) but below Massachusetts ($51,850), New York ($48,750), and Connecticut ($48,610). For an employer in Rhode Island, this means your compensation expectations are broadly in line with most Northeast neighbors, though candidates who could also work in Massachusetts may expect a higher 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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