The national mean average salary for medical assistants in the US is $42,000 and in California is $ 50,900 as of May 2023 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. [1] Medical assistant jobs are also projected to increase 15% between 2023 and 2033, much faster than the average of most jobs.
Medical assistants can work in many places, such as physician offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory services, and specialty medical offices.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the top paying medical assistant specialties, organized by the medical specialization.
Podiatry Medical Assistant
A podiatry medical assistant helps with foot and ankle care, ingrown toenails, bunion removal, and some wound care.
$54,872 was the median average salary for a podiatry medical assistant in June 2024 according to Glassdoor.
Oncology Medical Assistant
Oncology is a branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, research and treatment of cancer. Medical assistants in this field help doctors with radiation and chemotherapy at a hospital or oncology center, in addition to other clinical and administrative tasks.
$54,408 is the median salary for an oncology medical assistant in the US in Jan 2025 according to data from Glassdoor.
Ophthalmology Medical Assistant
An ophthalmology medical assistant helps with eye exams and finding the right glasses. Working in this specialty usually requires a certification in medical assisting for ophthalmology and eye care.
$50,410 was the median annual salary for an ophthalmology medical assistant according to data from Glassdoor in June 2024.
Cardiology Medical Assistant
Medical assistants in a cariologist’s office may help with taking vitals, routine exams, EKG tests, and preparing patients for procedures.
$45,864 is the mean annual salary for medical assistants in cariology, according to January 2025 data from ZipRecruiter.
Fertility Medical Assistant
Fertility clinics help patients become pregnant. A fertility medical assistant may help with non-invasive procedures like giving hormone injections, simple exams, and preparing equipment for in-vitro fertilization.
$45,760 is the median annual salary for a fertility medical assistant in the US, according to January 2025 data from ZipRecruiter.
Neurosurgery Medical Assistant
Medical assistants in neurosurgery centers help support physicians who treat spinal, brain, and nerve disorders. These medical workers also help support treatment plans for patients with strokes, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's – all of these affect the brain and neurological system.
$43,680 is the average median salary for a neurosurgery medical assistant in the US as of June 2024 according to data from Glassdoor.
Insurance Company and Agency Medical Assistant
Some medical assistants work for government agencies or insurance companies.
$43,680 is the mean annual salary for agency medical assistants in Sacramento, according to January 2025 data from ZipRecruiter.
Anesthesiology Medical Assistant
Medical assistants working in anesthesiology work together with physician anesthesiologists. While you are not applying the anesthesia directly, you help the patient through the entire process and after surgical procedures.
$43,617 is the average annual salary for an anesthesiology medical assistant according to data from Indeed in January 2025.
Dermatology Medical Assistant
In a dermatology clinic, physicians treat skin conditions. The medical assistant may help document the skin conditions and assist the dermatologist with non-invasive procedures related to biopsies.
$41,496 is the median annual salary for a dermatology medical assistant across the United States as of Jan 2025 according to ZipRecruiter.
Emergency Medicine Medical Assistant
Emergency medicine medical assistants work in urgent care, performing an extensive range of non-invasive duties, including diagnostic tests, vital signs, administering oxygen, and basic injury treatment.
$41,371 is the median salary for an emergency services medical assistant in the US as of Jan 2025 according to ZipRecruiter.
Aesthetic Medical Assistant
This type of medical assistant works in medical spas and can assist the doctor with blood draws, collecting samples for labs, preparing patients for procedures filling out charts, scheduling, and checking patients out.
$41,371 is the median salary for an aesthetic medical assistant in the US as of Jan 2025 according to ZipRecruiter.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Assistant
Obstetrics deals with medical care for pregnant people, and gynecology is for women’s reproductive health. OB-GYN medical assistants help with taking vital signs, collecting patient samples, tabulating belly diameter of pregnant women, and assisting with some clinical procedures.
$42,000 is the median salary for an OB-GYN medical assistant in the US.
Chiropractic Medical Assistant
Chiropractic medical assistants perform mostly administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, ordering supplies, and limited clinical duties such as preparing exam rooms.
$36,265 is the average median salary for a chiropractic medical assistant according to data from ZipRecruiter in January 2025.
Medical Assistant Salary and Wages by State, as of May 2023
| State | Mean Annual Salary | Mean Hourly Wage | Median Annual Salary | Median Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,160 | $16.42 | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Alaska | $52,530 | $25.25 | $50,160 | $24.12 |
| Arizona | $43,140 | $20.74 | $43,770 | $21.04 |
| Arkansas | $35,560 | $17.10 | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| California | $50,900 | $24.47 | $46,690 | $22.45 |
| Colorado | $46,270 | $22.25 | $45,770 | $22.01 |
| Connecticut | $46,630 | $22.42 | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| Delaware | $41,340 | $19.88 | $40,250 | $19.35 |
| District of Columbia | $50,110 | $24.09 | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| Florida | $40,530 | $19.49 | $38,340 | $18.43 |
| Georgia | $39,640 | $19.06 | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Hawaii | $47,840 | $23.00 | $46,930 | $22.56 |
| Idaho | $42,110 | $20.24 | $40,670 | $19.55 |
| Illinois | $42,790 | $20.57 | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| Indiana | $42,260 | $20.32 | $40,680 | $19.56 |
| Iowa | $42,660 | $20.51 | $42,980 | $20.67 |
| Kansas | $39,020 | $18.76 | $37,670 | $18.11 |
| Kentucky | $37,090 | $17.83 | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Louisiana | $33,610 | $16.16 | $34,280 | $16.48 |
| Maine | $44,580 | $21.44 | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| Maryland | $44,100 | $21.20 | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Massachusetts | $48,570 | $23.35 | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Michigan | $39,840 | $19.15 | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| Minnesota | $49,740 | $23.91 | $48,890 | $23.51 |
| Mississippi | $34,630 | $16.65 | $34,040 | $16.36 |
| Missouri | $39,230 | $18.86 | $38,260 | $18.40 |
| Montana | $43,230 | $20.79 | $44,040 | $21.17 |
| Nebraska | $42,280 | $20.33 | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| Nevada | $41,390 | $19.90 | $39,940 | $19.20 |
| New Hampshire | $45,490 | $21.87 | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| New Jersey | $45,190 | $21.72 | $45,340 | $21.80 |
| New Mexico | $39,020 | $18.76 | $37,640 | $18.10 |
| New York | $47,350 | $22.77 | $45,440 | $21.85 |
| North Carolina | $40,880 | $19.65 | $40,190 | $19.32 |
| North Dakota | $40,320 | $19.39 | $40,880 | $19.65 |
| Ohio | $39,620 | $19.05 | $38,280 | $18.40 |
| Oklahoma | $37,480 | $18.02 | $37,240 | $17.91 |
| Oregon | $49,390 | $23.74 | $48,350 | $23.25 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,090 | $20.24 | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| Rhode Island | $43,580 | $20.95 | $43,980 | $21.15 |
| South Carolina | $38,520 | $18.52 | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| South Dakota | $37,760 | $18.16 | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Tennessee | $38,860 | $18.68 | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Texas | $38,870 | $18.69 | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| Utah | $41,290 | $19.85 | $40,270 | $19.36 |
| Vermont | $44,710 | $21.49 | $44,480 | $21.39 |
| Virginia | $42,010 | $20.20 | $40,240 | $19.34 |
| Washington | $53,780 | $25.86 | $52,600 | $25.29 |
| West Virginia | $34,660 | $16.67 | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Wisconsin | $45,160 | $21.71 | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| Wyoming | $40,810 | $19.62 | $38,730 | $18.62 |
Become a Certified Medical Assistant in About 36 Weeks
If you’re ready to begin your career in healthcare, Campus Sacramento, formerly MTI College, has a medical assistant training program that will give you the skills you need to begin your career. In about 36 weeks, you will be able to earn your NCMA certification, meaning you can start your medical assistant career. If you want more information on start dates, tuition, curriculum, financial aid, or more, contact our Admissions team or call 888-675-2460.
[1] Note: The data provided above are from a source unaffiliated with Campus, formerly known as MTI College, are for informational purposes only and represent the employment field as a whole. They are not solely specific to Campus graduates and, by providing the above information, Campus makes no representation, direct or implied, or opinion regarding employability.