Hourly Wage for Medical Assistant - Certified Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Medical Assistant - Certified?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Medical Assistant - Certified in the United States is $22, which translates to an annual salary of about $45,896.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $26 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $20 to $24 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $18 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Medical Assistant - Certified Salaries

A Medical Assistant - Certified's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Medical Assistant - Certified Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Medical Assistant - Certified's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $45,550
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $46,023
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $46,974
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $47,165
  • Expert (over 8 years): $47,292
Levels Salary
Entry Level Medical Assistant - Certified$45,550
Intermediate Level Medical Assistant - Certified$46,023
Senior Level Medical Assistant - Certified$46,974
Specialist Level Medical Assistant - Certified$47,165
Expert Level Medical Assistant - Certified$47,292

Top Paying Cities for Medical Assistant - Certified

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $57,889
  • San Francisco: $57,255
  • Oakland: $56,048

What Skills Can Increase a Medical Assistant - Certified's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.6% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Patient Flow (Mentioned in 2.7% Job Postings): Patient flow is defined as the movement of patients, information or equipment between departments, staff groups or organisations as part of a patients care pathway.
  • Basic Life Support (Mentioned in 2.51% Job Postings): BLS is a level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until they can be given full medical care by advanced life support providers. It can be provided by trained medical personnel.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.6%
Patient Flow 2.7%
Basic Life Support 2.51%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Medical Assistant - Certified's salary.

  • Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Organizational Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Listening $48,191
5%
Organizational Skills $47,732
4%
Commitment $47,273
3%

Medical Assistant - Certified Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Medical Assistant - Certified salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $48,683. While startup companies pay approximate $41,485.

Medical Assistant - Certified Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $41,485
Growth Stage 51~500 $43,793
Established 501~5000 $47,091
Enterprise 5000+ $48,683

Medical Assistant - Certified Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Medical Assistant - Certified roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Medical Assistant - Certified positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Medical Assistant - Certified as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Medical Assistant - Certified

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$55,075$26.020%

How Education impacts an Medical Assistant - Certified's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Medical Assistant - Certified enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Medical Assistant - Certified with a Bachelor's Degree is between $41,131 and $43,321.

Medical Assistant - Certified Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Medical Assistant - Certified
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 62.3%
Associates 31.4%
Bachelors 5.0%
Masters 0.4%
Doctorate 0.3%

Medical Assistant - Certified Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Medical Assistant - Certified's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$41,265
Average $45,896/year
$50,146
$3,439
Average $3,825/month
$4,179
$794
Average $883/week
$964
$20
Average $22/hour
$24
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $50,146 $4,179 $964 $24
Average $45,896 $3,825 $883 $22
25th Percentile $41,265 $3,439 $794 $20

Most common benefits for Medical Assistant - Certified

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Medical Assistant - Certified

Here are companies hiring for Medical Assistant - Certified and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Medical Assistant - Certified

1. What are the responsibilities of Medical Assistant - Certified?

Assists in the examination and treatment of patients under the direction of a physician. Interviews patients, measures vital signs (i.e., pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight, and height), and records or inputs information to patients' medical records. Prepares treatment rooms for the examination of patients. May draw and collect blood samples from patients and prepare specimens for laboratory analysis. May perform administrative duties such as ordering supplies, answering the phone, and scheduling appointments. Requires a high school diploma. May require Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). May require Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Medical Assistant - Certified

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.

2.)

Patient Flow: Patient flow is defined as the movement of patients, information or equipment between departments, staff groups or organisations as part of a patients care pathway.

3.)

Basic Life Support: BLS is a level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until they can be given full medical care by advanced life support providers. It can be provided by trained medical personnel.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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