Salary · CA · SOC 31-9092

Medical Assistant salary in California, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for medical assistants in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for medical assistants in California was $49,660 a year, or $23.88 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $39,290 to $77,300. About 117,060 were employed.

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Medical Assistant pay in California vs the US

Medical Assistant wages in California and the US, May 2025
Measure	CA annual	CA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$49,660	$23.88	$45,690
Mean (average)	$55,100	$26.49	$46,120
10th percentile	$39,290	$18.89	$36,050
25th percentile	$46,240	$22.23	$38,470
75th percentile	$61,870	$29.75	$49,180
90th percentile	$77,300	$37.16	$59,310

Employment in California: 117,060. Location quotient: 1.22 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Medical Assistant salary by metro area in California

Medical Assistant median wage by metro area, California
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$47,760	$22.96	39,770
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$59,790	$28.75	14,320
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$46,700	$22.45	11,280
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$49,420	$23.76	9,370
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$61,970	$29.79	7,410
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$61,940	$29.78	6,400
Fresno, CA	$46,500	$22.36	3,310
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$46,560	$22.39	2,340
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$50,680	$24.36	2,020
Modesto, CA	$49,990	$24.04	1,870
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$47,840	$23.00	1,740
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$49,500	$23.80	1,660
Visalia, CA	$47,140	$22.67	1,580
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$64,820	$31.16	1,550
Vallejo, CA	$77,410	$37.22	1,360
Salinas, CA	$48,890	$23.50	1,080
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$50,090	$24.08	960
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$49,520	$23.81	850
Chico, CA	$47,150	$22.67	770
Merced, CA	$39,800	$19.13	700
Redding, CA	$46,210	$22.22	520
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$49,510	$23.80	480
Yuba City, CA	$49,410	$23.75	430
El Centro, CA	$45,290	$21.78	390
Napa, CA	$62,050	$29.83	320

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Medical Assistant salary in California

Median pay: $49,660 a year ($23.88 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $39,290 to $77,300 a year

Employed: 117,060

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Medical Assistant salary in California</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$49,660</strong> a year ($23.88 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $39,290 to $77,300 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 117,060</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/medical-assistant/ca" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a Medical Assistant make per hour in California?

The median hourly wage was $23.88 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $18.89 and the 90th was $37.16.

What is the average Medical Assistant salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $55,100 a year and a median of $49,660 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do medical assistants in California earn more than the US median?

The California median of $49,660 is 9% higher than the US median of $45,690 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for medical assistant pay?

California ranks 6 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for medical assistants (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-9092. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.