The salary range for a medical assistant in Washington runs from $46,540 at the 10th percentile to $74,200 at the 90th percentile. Most candidates you will encounter fall between the 25th and 75th percentile marks of $49,310 and $63,590. Use those middle figures to anchor your initial offer range, then adjust up or down based on the candidate's experience and specialization.
Medical assistant salary in Washington (2026)
In this article
The average medical assistant salary in Washington is $58,590 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $59,290 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Washington employs 19,500 medical assistants, and the $700 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level medical assistants in Washington typically earn around $46,540, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed $74,200. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in Washington, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $59,290 |
Average Annual Salary | $58,590 |
vs. National Average | 27.0% above the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 19,500 employed medical assistants across Washington.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next registered nurse hire.
Medical assistant salary percentiles in Washington
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $46,540 |
25th Percentile | $49,310 |
75th Percentile | $63,590 |
90th Percentile | $74,200 |
Employers setting an offer for a medical assistant in Washington should expect to land between $49,310 and $63,590 for most mid-range candidates, with senior specialists pushing toward or past $74,200. Offers below $46,540 will likely fall outside the range most candidates in this market will consider.
Medical assistant salary by city in Washington
City | Average Annual Salary |
Seattle | $62,210 |
Bellingham | $55,940 |
Spokane | $53,200 |
Kennewick | $52,900 |
Yakima | $50,790 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a medical assistant hire in Washington. Seattle commands the highest average at $62,210, while Yakima sits at $50,790, a difference of more than $11,000 per year. Employers hiring outside the Seattle metro can set offers closer to the lower end of the state range without losing competitiveness in those local markets.
How Washington compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Washington | $58,590 | $59,290 |
California | $55,100 | $49,660 |
Oregon | $52,400 | $50,410 |
Colorado | $49,490 | $48,400 |
New York | $48,750 | $48,000 |
Texas | $41,240 | $39,520 |
Employers in Washington should budget higher for medical assistant compensation than they would in any of these comparison states. Washington's average of $58,590 exceeds California's $55,100 and sits well above Texas's $41,240. Candidates relocating from lower-wage states will likely expect Washington-level pay once they understand the local market.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Washington
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in Washington?
What is the average medical assistant salary in Washington?
The average medical assistant salary in Washington is $58,590 per year. The median of $59,290 is slightly higher, which tells you the distribution is fairly balanced with a modest pull from higher earners at the top. For most hiring decisions, the median is the more practical benchmark to use when setting a starting offer.
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in Washington?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Washington earn $74,200 per year. Candidates at this level typically bring specialized skills, significant experience, or work in higher-paying metro markets like Seattle. Budget toward or above this figure if you are competing for senior talent in the state's most active hiring markets.
How does Washington compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
Washington pays medical assistants more than any of the comparison states in this data set. The state's average of $58,590 exceeds California's $55,100, Oregon's $52,400, and Texas's $41,240. If you are hiring candidates who have worked in lower-wage states, expect them to benchmark against Washington's local rates once they enter this market.
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 California (2026)
Find out what medical assistants earn in California — median $49,660, average $55,100 — with salary ranges by city, percentile, and state comparison.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in Idaho (2026)
Find out what medical assistants earn in Idaho in 2026, from a $44,240 average to city-by-city breakdowns and comparisons with neighboring states.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in Colorado (2026)
Find 2026 medical assistant salaries in Colorado — median $48,400, with breakdowns by city, percentile, and state comparisons to sharpen your hiring budget.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in Oregon (2026)
Oregon medical assistants earn $50,410 median and $52,400 on average. Compare salaries by city, percentile, and neighboring states to set competitive pay.
Jun 9, 2026
|
2 min
Medical assistant salary in the US (2026)
The average medical assistant salary in the US is $46,120. See national percentiles and state-by-state pay data to benchmark your next hire.
Jul 14, 2026
|
3 min
Medical assistant salary in Alaska (2026)
Alaska medical assistants earn a median $52,560 and average $56,630 — 22.8% above the national mean. See salary ranges by city, percentile, and state.
Jul 14, 2026
|
3 min
Medical assistant salary in Montana (2026)
Montana medical assistant salaries average $46,570 per year. Compare pay by city, percentile, and neighboring states to set a competitive offer.
Jul 14, 2026
|
4 min
Medical assistant salary in Oklahoma (2026)
Oklahoma medical assistant salaries average $40,370 per year. See pay by percentile, city, and how Oklahoma compares to neighboring states.
See Rippling in action
Increase savings, automate busy work, and make better decisions by managing HR, IT, and Finance in one place.