What Medical Assistants do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Medical Assistants this way: "Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height"; "Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician"; "Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records"; "Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician"; "Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is postsecondary nondegree award.
Job outlook for Medical Assistants
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 833,900 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 941,500 in 2035, an increase of 107,600 jobs (+12.9%). That is faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 109,700 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 13.2% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $45,690, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Medical Assistants earn the most
Across the 19 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $40,228 in Michigan to $57,404 in Washington, a gap of $17,176 (1.43 times). 9 of those 19 states average above the BLS national median of $45,690 and 10 average at or below it.
California employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 114,080, which is 16.1% of the 709,710 counted across them. Texas follows with 72,530.
Highest-paying states
Washington ($57,404), California ($51,698) and New Hampshire ($50,278) lead the ranking, while Michigan ($40,228) and Texas ($40,918) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Medical Assistants: pay against the cost of living
We compare 27 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Jefferson County, WV (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV) at $18,460. The weakest market is Kings County, NY, where the basics cost $1,947 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 26 of the 27 markets and falls short in 1. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 33.0% and 84.1% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Medical Assistants
Dental Assistants belong to the same detailed SOC group. Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (31-9000) include .
Frequently asked questions about Medical Assistants
How much do Medical Assistants earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $45,690. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $40,228 to $57,404.
Which state pays Medical Assistants the most?
Washington, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $57,404. California is next at $51,698.
Is Medical Assistants a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 12.9% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 109,700 openings a year.
What education do Medical Assistants need?
The typical entry-level education is postsecondary nondegree award, according to BLS.
Where can Medical Assistants afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Jefferson County, WV leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $18,460 on a median wage of $46,640.