CMA Salary by State in 2026 (Real BLS Data)

The most reliable salary data for medical assistants comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) release. The May 2024 release — the most recent as of this writing — reports the following for Medical Assistants (Standard Occupational Classification code 31-9092): • Median annual wage: $44,200 • Median hourly wage: $21.25 • Total employment nationally: approximately 764,000 • Projected job growth 2023-2033: 15% — much faster than the average for all occupations Medical assistant is one of the fastest-growing healthcare occupations in the country, driven by outpatient care expansion and the shift of routine medical services from hospital settings to physician offices, urgent care centers, and ambulatory clinics. A note on certification: BLS reports wages for the medical assistant occupation as a whole, not specifically for CMA (AAMA)-certified assistants. Multiple industry surveys show certified MAs typically earn 5-15% more than uncertified peers in the same geography, though this varies by employer.

The following annual mean wages are drawn from the BLS May 2024 OEWS release for Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092). Wages vary within each state by metro area and by cost of living. These figures are gross annual mean wages before taxes.

Washington leads the country for medical assistant pay at roughly $54,500 annual mean wage. Washington, Alaska, California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii are consistently the top five paying states in every BLS release cycle. All five combine higher cost of living with strong healthcare employer concentration (major hospital systems, biotech corridors, and rural healthcare premiums in Alaska). The Pacific Northwest, in particular, has been a top-paying region for medical assistants for the past decade. Seattle, Portland, and San Jose consistently rank in the top 10 metropolitan areas for medical assistant wages, with San Jose often crossing $56,000.

California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania have the largest number of medical assistants employed: • California: approximately 95,700 medical assistants — the largest by a wide margin • Florida: approximately 56,000 • Texas: approximately 51,900 • New York: approximately 45,000 • Pennsylvania: high employment, exact numbers vary by release High employment does not mean high pay — Texas and Florida have among the largest MA workforces in the country but sit below the national median in mean wage. If you are looking for pure pay, the Pacific Northwest and Northeast pay more. If you are looking for job availability and volume, the large southern states are hard to beat.

Yes, though the size of the increase depends on employer and geography. Several factors work in favor of certified CMAs: • Large hospital systems (Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, HCA Healthcare) frequently list "CMA (AAMA), CCMA (NHA), or RMA (AMT)" as a job requirement or strong preference. • Certified MAs are more likely to be promoted into lead-MA, clinical coordinator, or medical office supervisor roles. • Certification signals to employers that you completed a rigorous accredited program and can perform the full clinical and administrative scope. Commonly cited industry data shows certified medical assistants earn 5-15% more than uncertified peers doing the same work. In dollar terms in 2026, that gap is roughly $2,000 to $6,500 per year on the median MA wage. Over a 20-year career, the certification pays for itself many times over.

Beyond earning the CMA (AAMA) credential itself, the highest-leverage pay moves for medical assistants are: 1. Specialize. Cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and orthopedic MAs typically earn 5-10% above general practice. Specialty-specific skills (EKG interpretation basics, minor surgical assisting, ophthalmic tonometry) are learned on the job or through short courses. 2. Move to a higher-paying market — with cost-of-living in mind. Seattle and San Jose pay $54,000-56,000 but cost of living is high. Rural Washington and Oregon pay near-metro wages with lower cost of living. 3. Move into a lead or supervisory role. Lead MAs and clinical coordinators typically earn 15-25% above staff MA pay. 4. Add complementary credentials. Phlebotomy certification, EKG technician credential, or medical billing/coding certification (CPC, CBCS) can move you into hybrid roles that pay more. 5. Maintain your certification. AAMA CMA requires recertification every 60 months via 60 CEUs (10 admin, 10 clinical, 10 general, 30 any category) or by retaking the exam. Letting your certification lapse forces you to reactivate at additional cost and undermines pay negotiations.

**How much do medical assistants make per hour?** The national median is $21.25 per hour based on the BLS May 2024 OEWS release. Pay ranges from about $17 per hour in low-cost southern states to $27+ per hour in Washington and California metros. **Which state pays medical assistants the most?** Washington, with an annual mean wage of about $54,500. Alaska, California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii round out the top five. **Do CMAs make more than CNAs?** Generally yes. CNAs earn a national median around $38,000-40,000, while medical assistants earn a national median of $44,200. The two roles have different scopes: CNAs work primarily in long-term care and hospitals; MAs work primarily in physician offices and outpatient clinics. **Does CMA (AAMA) certification pay more than CCMA or RMA?** In most job listings, the three credentials are treated as equivalent for pay purposes. Some large hospital systems specifically prefer CMA (AAMA). Local job market matters more than the specific credential. **Is medical assistant a good career for the pay?** Medical assistant offers strong entry-level access to healthcare — no bachelor's degree required, 9-12 month training programs, projected 15% growth over the next decade, and pay above the entry-level service-industry median. It is a strong first healthcare role and a springboard into nursing, medical office administration, or specialized clinical roles.