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Medical Assistants salary in California

Median: $49,660 / year · $23.88 / hr · 2025

9% above the U.S. average

Mean
$55,100
$26.49 / hr
Median hourly
$23.88 / hr
10th–90th percentile
$39,290 – $77,300
U.S. median
$45,690
Wage distribution (annual)
  • 10th percentile$39,290
  • Median$49,660
  • Mean$55,100
  • 90th percentile$77,300

U.S. median $45,690

Take-home estimate

$40,616

On a $49,660 OEWS median, single filer (2024). Not tax advice.

  • Federal income tax$3,975 (8.0%)
  • State income tax$1,270 (2.6%)
  • Social Security$3,079 (6.2%)
  • Medicare$720 (1.5%)
  • Net take-home$40,616 (81.8%)
  • Share of $49,660 gross (single filer). Not tax advice.

Open take-home calculator →

Living-cost context

$44,852

U.S.-average purchasing power of this median. California RPP is 110.7 (11% above the U.S. average).

California cost of living →

Related occupations in California

ZIP codes in California

All California ZIP codes →

Highest-paying states for Medical Assistants

California ranks #6 of 51 states and DC with a published OEWS median ($49,660).

Medical Assistants median salary by state
RankStateMedian
#1 Highest Washington$59,290
#2Alaska$52,560
#3District of Columbia$51,050
#4Minnesota$50,480
#5Oregon$50,410
#6California$49,660
#7Massachusetts$49,460
#8Wisconsin$48,680
#9Hawaii$48,410
#10Colorado$48,400
#11New Hampshire$48,020
#12New York$48,000
#13Maine$47,580
#14Connecticut$47,430
#15Nebraska$47,370
#16Vermont$47,250
#17New Jersey$47,210
#18Rhode Island$47,190
#19Montana$46,820
#20Maryland$46,410
#21Illinois$46,090
#22North Dakota$45,980
#23Arizona$45,940
#24Iowa$45,480
#25Utah$45,360
#26Nevada$45,200
#27North Carolina$45,140
#28Indiana$45,110
#29Virginia$44,740
#30Idaho$44,700
#31Delaware$44,490
#32Pennsylvania$43,920
#33Florida$43,680
#34Ohio$42,810
#35South Dakota$41,870
#36Georgia$41,600
#37South Carolina$41,160
#38Wyoming$40,920
#39Missouri$40,440
#40Michigan$39,870
#41Tennessee$39,570
#42Texas$39,520
#43Kansas$39,510
#44Kentucky$39,270
#45New Mexico$39,230
#46Oklahoma$38,750
#47Arkansas$37,760
#48West Virginia$37,180
#49Louisiana$36,320
#50Alabama$36,100
#51 Lowest Mississippi$35,360

Frequently asked questions

What is the median medical assistants salary in California?
The OEWS median is $49,660 per year ($23.88 / hr) (2025), 9% above the U.S. average.
How much does a medical assistants make per hour in California?
The OEWS hourly median is $23.88 / hr.
Is this take-home pay?
No. OEWS is pre-tax. A single-filer estimate on this median is about $40,616 after federal, state, and FICA. Use the take-home calculator to change the gross.
How does medical assistants pay compare nationally?
The California median is 9% above the U.S. average versus the U.S. OEWS median of $45,690.
Which states pay medical assistantss the most?
Washington has the highest published OEWS median at $59,290. California ranks #6 of 51.
What is that salary worth after California living costs?
BEA all-items RPP is 110.7 (U.S. = 100), 11% above the U.S. average. $49,660 in California has about the same purchasing power as $44,852 at U.S. average prices.