How much money do medical assistants make per year? What is the average salary or hourly wage for a CMA (certified medical assistant)? Medical assistants provide invaluable services in hospitals, physicians’ offices, and many other healthcare settings. The job duties of a CMA may vary, depending on their scope of practice within each
state, certifications obtained, and the specific employer requirements, but here are some of the common job duties for this profession: The job outlook for medical assistants is excellent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this profession is expected to grow by a whopping 29% between years 2016-2026. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2017, the average salary for a medical assistant in the Unite States was $33,580, and the average hourly
wage was $16.15.Job Duties
Job Outlook
Medical Assistant Salary
To see how your earnings compare to other CMAs in the U.S., you can view the percentile income statistics in the chart below:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $11.46 | $13.26 | $15.61 | $18.43 | $22.07 |
| Annual Wage | $23,830 | $27,580 | $32,480 | $38,340 | $45,900 |
According to the table above, if you earned a salary of $38,340 in 2017, you earned more than 75% of the medical assistants in the United States, and 25% earned more than you did.
CMA Salary for all 50 States
The highest paying state for CMAs was Alaska, which paid an average salary of $42,060 and an average hourly wage of $20.22. The lowest paying state for medical assistants was West Virginia, which paid an average salary of $27,270 and an average hourly wage of $13.11.
Below are the CMA salary and employment figures for all reporting U.S. states and territories.
| State/Territory | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Alabama | 8,570 | $13.33 | $27,730 |
| Alaska | 1,610 | $20.22 | $42,060 |
| Arizona | 17,510 | $15.79 | $32,840 |
| Arkansas | 3,290 | $14.43 | $30,010 |
| California | 89,910 | $17.61 | $36,630 |
| Colorado | 9,810 | $16.95 | $35,260 |
| Connecticut | 7,520 | $17.55 | $36,510 |
| Delaware | 2,470 | $15.78 | $32,830 |
| District of Columbia | 1,760 | $19.50 | $40,570 |
| Florida | 54,220 | $15.37 | $31,980 |
| Georgia | 21,320 | $15.41 | $32,060 |
| Guam | 180 | $11.93 | $24,810 |
| Hawaii | 3,360 | $17.69 | $36,800 |
| Idaho | 3,320 | $15.36 | $31,950 |
| Illinois | 19,890 | $16.69 | $34,710 |
| Indiana | 13,180 | $15.10 | $31,410 |
| Iowa | 4,920 | $16.36 | $34,030 |
| Kansas | 4,740 | $14.98 | $31,160 |
| Kentucky | 8,640 | $14.93 | $31,050 |
| Louisiana | 7,610 | $13.37 | $27,810 |
| Maine | 3,900 | $16.35 | $34,020 |
| Maryland | 11,800 | $17.35 | $36,080 |
| Massachusetts | 13,030 | $18.90 | $39,310 |
| Michigan | 22,790 | $15.03 | $31,270 |
| Minnesota | 10,730 | $18.78 | $39,050 |
| Mississippi | 2,930 | $14.61 | $30,390 |
| Missouri | 9,780 | $15.08 | $31,370 |
| Montana | 1,300 | $15.95 | $33,170 |
| Nebraska | 2,870 | $15.97 | $33,210 |
| Nevada | 6,350 | $16.26 | $33,830 |
| New Hampshire | 2,640 | $17.22 | $35,820 |
| New Jersey | 18,930 | $17.20 | $35,770 |
| New Mexico | 5,880 | $14.42 | $30,000 |
| New York | 25,140 | $17.41 | $36,220 |
| North Carolina | 17,190 | $15.44 | $32,110 |
| North Dakota | 620 | $17.07 | $35,500 |
| Ohio | 23,240 | $15.01 | $31,220 |
| Oklahoma | 8,440 | $14.49 | $30,140 |
| Oregon | 11,430 | $17.78 | $36,990 |
| Pennsylvania | 28,260 | $15.38 | $31,980 |
| Puerto Rico | 480 | $9.59 | $19,950 |
| Rhode Island | 2,410 | $16.88 | $35,110 |
| South Carolina | 9,540 | $14.94 | $31,080 |
| South Dakota | 1,010 | $14.37 | $29,890 |
| Tennessee | 13,640 | $15.14 | $31,490 |
| Texas | 58,090 | $14.85 | $30,880 |
| Utah | 7,180 | $15.39 | $32,010 |
| Vermont | 630 | $17.83 | $37,080 |
| Virgin Islands | 50 | $13.51 | $28,110 |
| Virginia | 13,630 | $16.20 | $33,690 |
| Washington | 13,500 | $19.09 | $39,700 |
| West Virginia | 3,280 | $13.11 | $27,270 |
| Wisconsin | 11,800 | $17.40 | $36,180 |
| Wyoming | 690 | $15.83 | $32,930 |
Top Paying Industries for Medical Assistants
The highest paying industry for CMAs was the “Junior Colleges” industry, which paid an average salary of $40,580. However, this industry also had a very low level of employment (70). The industry with the highest employment level (excluding categories that encompass multiple industries) was “Offices of Physicians,” which employed an estimated 373,620 medical assistants and paid an average salary of $33.570.
Here is a table of the various industries for certified medical assistants, along with their reported employment levels and average salary/wage.
| Occupation Industry | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | – | $14.61 | $30,380 |
| Sector 53 – Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | – | $19.10 | $39,720 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | – | $19.10 | $39,720 |
| Office Administrative Services | – | $16.09 | $33,470 |
| Ambulance Services | – | $19.39 | $40,330 |
| Sector 71 – Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | – | $18.32 | $38,100 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | – | $18.32 | $38,100 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | – | $14.61 | $30,380 |
| Cross-industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local Government | 646,320 | $16.15 | $33,580 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership Only | 619,380 | $16.10 | $33,490 |
| Sector 62 – Health Care and Social Assistance | 614,180 | $16.12 | $33,520 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 499,360 | $16.10 | $33,480 |
| Offices of Physicians | 373,620 | $16.14 | $33,570 |
| Hospitals | 94,020 | $16.75 | $34,840 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 91,740 | $16.75 | $34,850 |
| Hospitals – Privately owned | 76,570 | $16.65 | $34,640 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals – Privately owned | 74,510 | $16.66 | $34,650 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 58,700 | $16.95 | $35,260 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 55,950 | $14.79 | $30,770 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including government owned schools and hospitals | 26,950 | $17.13 | $35,640 |
| Offices of Chiropractors | 25,390 | $14.58 | $30,320 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | 19,270 | $13.61 | $28,320 |
| Local Government, including schools and hospitals | 16,270 | $16.82 | $34,990 |
| Offices of All Other Health Practitioners | 15,560 | $15.15 | $31,520 |
| Sector 56- Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 12,740 | $16.18 | $33,660 |
| Administrative and Support Services | 12,740 | $16.18 | $33,660 |
| Offices of Optometrists | 12,420 | $14.66 | $30,500 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | 11,910 | $13.37 | $27,800 |
| Hospitals – Local government owned | 11,540 | $16.65 | $34,630 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals – Local government owned | 11,530 | $16.65 | $34,630 |
| State Government, including schools and hospitals | 10,670 | $17.61 | $36,620 |
| Employment Services | 9,820 | $16.21 | $33,720 |
| Sector 61 – Educational Services | 8,120 | $17.63 | $36,680 |
| Educational Services | 8,120 | $17.63 | $36,680 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 7,310 | $17.96 | $37,360 |
| Nursing Care Facilities | 5,940 | $14.07 | $29,260 |
| Hospitals – State government owned | 5,920 | $18.19 | $37,840 |
| Temporary Help Services | 5,900 | $16.28 | $33,850 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals – State government owned | 5,700 | $18.21 | $37,880 |
| Sector 99 – Federal, State, and Local Government | 4,410 | $17.18 | $35,720 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government | 4,410 | $17.18 | $35,720 |
| Educational Services – State government owned | 4,000 | $17.09 | $35,550 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools – State government owned | 3,990 | $17.10 | $35,570 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 3,690 | $15.21 | $31,640 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 3,660 | $15.17 | $31,550 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals | 3,650 | $17.47 | $36,330 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | 3,300 | $18.15 | $37,740 |
| Educational Services – Privately owned | 3,040 | $18.75 | $39,000 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools – Privately owned | 2,930 | $18.87 | $39,260 |
| Sector 54 – Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,600 | $16.30 | $33,910 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,600 | $16.30 | $33,910 |
| Offices of Dentists | 2,490 | $17.18 | $35,730 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | 2,230 | $15.27 | $31,760 |
| Specialty Hospitals | 1,870 | $16.65 | $34,640 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | 1,750 | $15.68 | $32,620 |
| Specialty hospitals – Privately owned | 1,750 | $16.68 | $34,700 |
| Sector 55 – Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,730 | $16.37 | $34,040 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,730 | $16.37 | $34,040 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,730 | $16.37 | $34,040 |
| Home Health Care Services | 1,610 | $16.13 | $33,550 |
| Social Assistance | 1,540 | $15.83 | $32,920 |
| Sectors 44 and 45 – Retail Trade | 1,350 | $14.56 | $30,280 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | 1,270 | $13.75 | $28,600 |
| Individual and Family Services | 1,260 | $15.98 | $33,240 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | 1,090 | $15.14 | $31,490 |
| Educational Services – Local government owned | 1,080 | $16.50 | $34,320 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals | 750 | $15.75 | $32,750 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | 730 | $13.78 | $28,670 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 720 | $14.25 | $29,630 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 690 | $16.85 | $35,040 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | 650 | $16.21 | $33,720 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools – Local government owned | 620 | $14.07 | $29,270 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | 540 | $13.71 | $28,510 |
| Sector 81 – Other Services | 540 | $17.31 | $36,010 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 510 | $17.94 | $37,310 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | 420 | $15.86 | $32,990 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | 410 | $14.83 | $30,850 |
| Offices of Mental Health Practitioners | 360 | $16.43 | $34,170 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | 330 | $17.38 | $36,140 |
| Personal Care Services | 330 | $17.38 | $36,140 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals – Privately owned | 310 | $14.67 | $30,510 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 220 | $17.21 | $35,810 |
| Sector 52 – Finance and Insurance | 180 | $17.79 | $37,010 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | 180 | $17.79 | $37,010 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | 180 | $14.94 | $31,070 |
| Insurance Carriers | 150 | $17.55 | $36,500 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | 140 | $14.13 | $29,390 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 130 | $18.54 | $38,560 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 130 | $17.64 | $36,690 |
| Specialty hospitals – State government owned | 120 | $16.12 | $33,540 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | 100 | $17.44 | $36,270 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools – Privately owned | 100 | $15.42 | $32,080 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals – State government owned | 100 | $19.36 | $40,260 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | 100 | $15.44 | $32,120 |
| Sectors 31, 32, and 33 – Manufacturing | 80 | $19.23 | $40,000 |
| Junior Colleges | 70 | $19.51 | $40,580 |
| Junior colleges – Local government owned | 60 | $20.23 | $42,070 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | 50 | $17.28 | $35,950 |
| Sector 42 – Wholesale Trade | 40 | $16.03 | $33,340 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 40 | $15.85 | $32,980 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 40 | $15.85 | $32,980 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2017 Edition, Medical Assistants, on the Internet at bls.gov.