CCMA Salary by State in 2026 (Real BLS Data)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks medical assistants under SOC code 31-9092. BLS does not separate CCMA-certified MAs from CMA, RMA, or uncertified MAs — the salary data is for all medical assistants combined. That said, certification (any nationally recognized credential, including CCMA) consistently correlates with higher pay in employer surveys. Based on the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) release for May 2024 — the most recent full dataset available in 2026 — here is the national picture. National median annual wage: $42,000 National mean annual wage: $43,860 National median hourly: $20.19 Top 10% earners: over $54,000/year Bottom 10% earners: under $33,000/year Total employment: approximately 780,000 medical assistants nationwide. Projected growth: 14% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than average for all occupations. Roughly 118,000 openings are projected each year.

The table below shows annual mean wages for all medical assistants (SOC 31-9092) by state, using BLS OES May 2024 data. States are ranked highest to lowest. Wages listed are before taxes and reflect the average across all experience levels and settings.

The top-paying states share three characteristics: high cost of living, strong healthcare union presence or large hospital systems, and elevated minimum wages that lift entry-level pay across all healthcare support roles. Washington leads the nation at $54,610 annual mean, driven by Seattle-area hospital systems (UW Medicine, Providence, Kaiser Permanente Washington) and a high state minimum wage. Alaska ($52,830) reflects both remote-location premiums and the high cost of delivering healthcare across a spread-out state. California ($52,530) has the largest total employment of medical assistants of any state — over 100,000 — and the highest overall wage floor. Bay Area MAs frequently clear $60,000, while Central Valley averages closer to state median. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Oregon round out the top tier, each anchored by strong hospital networks and unionized healthcare labor markets.

BLS data does not split MA salaries by certification status, so the honest answer is that we cannot prove a national dollar figure. However, three data sources point to a real pay premium for certified MAs: 1. NHA's own biennial salary survey (most recent 2024) reports certified MAs earning $2,000-$4,000 more per year on average than uncertified peers in the same role. 2. Employer job posting analysis: Approximately 68% of medical assistant job postings in 2025 explicitly required or preferred a national certification (CCMA, CMA, or RMA). Jobs requiring certification averaged $1.50-$3.00/hour higher than "certification not required" postings for the same job titles in the same metros. 3. Large hospital systems (HCA, CommonSpirit, Providence, Kaiser) publish internal MA pay bands where certified MAs start on a higher rung — usually $1-$2/hour above uncertified MAs at hire. Realistically, expect the CCMA to add $2,000-$5,000 to your annual pay compared to being uncertified in the same role, plus meaningfully more job options.

Certification is the entry ticket. Once you have the CCMA, five moves reliably increase your annual earnings. 1. Move to a higher-paying setting. Hospitals and specialty clinics (cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology) pay 15-25% more than primary care and urgent care. Ambulatory surgery centers pay even more. 2. Stack a second credential. Adding a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) or Certified EKG Technician (CET) — both also NHA — often adds $1-$3/hour. Adding a Registered Medical Coder (RMC) or CCS opens doors to remote medical coding roles that start around $50,000. 3. Move to a high-paying state or metro. If you are geographically flexible, moving from a $37,000 state to a $52,000 state is an instant 40% raise for the same job. Consider Seattle, San Francisco Bay, Boston, and Minneapolis metros. 4. Take on charge/lead MA responsibilities. Lead MAs typically earn $2-$5/hour more and often lead into supervisor roles ($55,000-$70,000). 5. Bridge into nursing. Many CCMAs use their clinical foundation to bridge into LPN or RN programs. The RN route typically triples MA salary within 4-5 years.

**How much do CCMAs make an hour?** Based on BLS May 2024 data for all medical assistants, the national median is about $20.19/hour. CCMA-certified MAs typically earn $1-$3/hour more than uncertified MAs in the same role. **Which state pays CCMAs the most?** Washington ($54,610 annual mean), Alaska ($52,830), and California ($52,530) top the list per BLS May 2024 OES data. **Do hospitals pay CCMAs more than clinics?** Generally yes — hospital-based MAs earn 10-20% more than primary care clinic MAs on average, though hours can be less predictable. **Is CCMA salary higher than CMA or RMA?** BLS does not distinguish. Employer surveys show no meaningful pay difference between the three credentials at the national level. Local employer preferences matter more than credential letters. **Can CCMAs work remotely?** Most CCMA roles are on-site because they involve direct patient care. However, some MAs transition into remote roles in telehealth support, medical scribing, prior authorization, and coding — usually after stacking additional credentials. **What is the highest salary a CCMA can realistically reach?** Without stepping into nursing or admin management, top-of-band CCMAs in high-paying metros (Seattle, SF Bay, Boston) can reach $65,000-$70,000 with 8-10 years of experience, lead responsibilities, and a stacked credential. **Do CCMAs get benefits?** Yes — most full-time CCMA roles in hospitals and larger clinic systems include health insurance, PTO, retirement matching, and continuing education stipends. Small private practices vary.