Average Medical Assistant Salary in California: Annual & Hourly

• Alabama – $34,050 ($16.37)
• Alaska – $50,160 ($24.12)
• Arizona – $43,770 ($21.04)
• Arkansas – $35,050 ($16.85)
• California – $46,690 ($22.45)
• Colorado – $45,770 ($22.01)
• Connecticut – $45,780 ($22.01)
• Delaware – $40,250 ($19.35)
• District of Columbia – $48,710 ($23.42)
• Florida – $38,340 ($18.43)
• Georgia – $38,060 ($18.30)
• Hawaii – $46,930 ($22.56)
• Idaho – $40,670 ($19.55)
• Illinois – $42,850 ($20.60)
• Indiana – $40,680 ($19.56)
• Iowa – $42,980 ($20.67)
• Kansas – $37,670 ($18.11)
• Kentucky – $37,140 ($17.86)
• Louisiana – $34,280 ($16.48)
• Maine – $44,610 ($21.45)
• Maryland – $44,010 ($21.16)
• Massachusetts – $47,770 ($22.97)
• Michigan – $38,300 ($18.41)
• Minnesota – $48,890 ($23.51)
• Mississippi – $34,040 ($16.36)
• Missouri – $38,260 ($18.40)
• Montana – $44,040 ($21.17)
• Nebraska – $39,870 ($19.17)
• Nevada – $39,940 ($19.20)
• New Hampshire – $46,240 ($22.23)
• New Jersey – $45,340 ($21.80)
• New Mexico – $37,640 ($18.10)
• New York – $45,440 ($21.85)
• North Carolina – $40,190 ($19.32)
• North Dakota – $40,880 ($19.65)
• Ohio – $38,280 ($18.40)
• Oklahoma – $37,240 ($17.91)
• Oregon – $48,350 ($23.25)
• Pennsylvania – $39,480 ($18.98)
• Rhode Island – $43,980 ($21.15)
• South Carolina – $37,420 ($17.99)
• South Dakota – $36,280 ($17.44)
• Tennessee – $37,350 ($17.96)
• Texas – $37,570 ($18.06)
• Utah – $40,270 ($19.36)
• Vermont – $44,480 ($21.39)
• Virginia – $40,240 ($19.34)
• Washington – $52,600 ($25.29)
• West Virginia – $34,340 ($16.51)
• Wisconsin – $46,320 ($22.27)
• Wyoming – $38,730 ($18.62)
• Guam – $30,160 ($14.50)
• Puerto Rico – $24,590 ($11.82)
• Virgin Islands – $37,810 ($18.18)

Medical assistants are in high demand, and the available jobs for medical assistants are expected to continue increasing over the next several years. 

Between 2022 and 2032, medical assisting jobs are expected to increase by 14% nationwide. This is much higher than the nationwide projected job growth rate of 3%.

Medical assistants make a decent salary when first starting. Like most other professions, there are extra things you can do or skills you can develop that will help you become more valuable to your employer and be able to negotiate a better salary.

Having extra skills and certifications not only gets you a better salary, but it may allow you to have more freedom in choosing the type of office you prefer or the hours you would like to work.

Skills to improve your salary include:

• Get your medical assisting certification. Getting your medical assisting certification shows that you have the knowledge required to care for patients safely.
• Complete a phlebotomy course. Most medical assistants will have to perform blood draws. Completing a phlebotomy course will prepare you to perform your duties well.
• Complete an EKG course. An EKG course will teach you how to take a reading of your patient's heart rhythm to help the physician diagnose an underlying problem.
• Stay current on new technologies and procedures. Healthcare is always changing. Staying up to date on best practices helps you take good care of the patients in your office
• Attend continuing education courses. Completing continuing education courses shows that you are willing to do extra work to learn more about how to do your best as a medical assistant.
• Take a medical billing or coding class. Since medical assisting includes administrative tasks, understanding medical billing is an important part of the job.

• Learn a second language. California is a place where people of all backgrounds live. Knowing a second language can be very valuable for a medical assistant working with a variety of different patients.