Qualified Medication Aide Salary in the United States

How much does a Qualified Medication Aide make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Qualified Medication Aide in the United States is $38,123 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

However, a Qualified Medication Aide's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $41,946
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $33,912 to $40,124
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,078
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View as table View as graph 25% $33,912 10% $30,078 90% $41,946 75% $40,124 $38,123 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Qualified Medication Aide Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $40,124 $3,344 $772 $19
Average $38,123 $3,177 $733 $18
25th Percentile $33,912 $2,826 $652 $16
Check out Qualified Medication Aide Job Openings in the United States
Certified Medication Aide

The Laurels of Defiance - Defiance, OH

Certified Medication Aide

The Laurels of Defiance - Defiance, OH

Certified Medication Aide

The Laurels of Defiance - Defiance, OH

Certified Medication Aide

Wallick Communities - Beaver Creek, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Qualified Medication Aide Salaries

A Qualified Medication Aide'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 Qualified Medication Aide Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Qualified Medication Aide'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): $37,713
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $38,415
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $39,063
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $39,152
  • Expert (over 8 years): $39,299
Levels Salary
Entry Level Qualified Medication Aide$37,713
Intermediate Level Qualified Medication Aide$38,415
Senior Level Qualified Medication Aide$39,063
Specialist Level Qualified Medication Aide$39,152
Expert Level Qualified Medication Aide$39,299
$37,713 0 yr
$38,415 < 2 yrs
$39,063 2-4 yrs
$39,152 5-8 yrs
$39,299 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Qualified Medication Aide Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Qualified Medication Aides. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $42,209.
  • California: $42,049.
  • Massachusetts: $41,489.

Top Paying Cities for Qualified Medication Aides

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: $48,084
  • San Francisco: $47,611
  • Oakland: $46,555

What Skills Can Increase a Qualified Medication Aide's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 6.26% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Long Term Care (Mentioned in 4.76% Job Postings): Long-term care (LTC) is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods. Long term care is focused on individualized and coordinated services that promote independence, maximize patients' quality of life, and meet patients' needs over a period of time. It is common for long-term care to provide custodial and non-skilled care, such as assisting with normal daily tasks like dressing, feeding, using the bathroom. Increasingly, long-term care involves providing a level of medical care that requires the expertise of skilled practitioners to address the multiple chronic conditions associated with older populations. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes. Long-term care may be needed by people of any age, although it is a more common need for senior citizens.
  • Nursing Care (Mentioned in 2.72% Job Postings): Nursing Care means assistance provided for the health care needs of sick or disabled individuals, by or under the direction of licensed nursing personnel.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 6.26%
Long Term Care 4.76%
Nursing Care 2.72%
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 Qualified Medication Aide's salary.
  • Medication Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Authenticity: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Medication Management
$41,173
8%
Authenticity
$40,791
7%
Collaboration
$40,029
5%
Delegation
$40,029
5%
Decision Making
$39,648
4%
Agility
$39,648
4%
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How Education impacts a Qualified Medication Aide's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Qualified Medication Aides enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Qualified Medication Aide with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $35,105 and $36,871).

Qualified Medication Aide Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Qualified Medication Aide
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.4%
High School 55.3%
Associates 23.4%
Bachelors 14.9%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Qualified Medication Aide Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Qualified Medication Aide'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Qualified Medication Aide

Salaries for a Qualified Medication Aide can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $48,742 in 2023 to around $49,350 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Qualified Medication Aide salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Qualified Medication Aide Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$48,742
2024
$49,516
2025
$49,350
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $48,742
2024 $49,516
2025 $49,350
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Qualified Medication Aide

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Qualified Medication Aide

Here are companies hiring for Qualified Medication Aide and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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