How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in California in 2026?

A typical Medical Assistant in California earns about $23.88 per hour ($49,660 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that comes to roughly $4,138 a month or $955 a week, figures calculated from the annual figure. Pay varies by city, employer, and experience, but this is the starting point for understanding what the role pays across the state.

That figure sits 9% above the national typical pay of $45,690, and California ranks 6th among all 51 states and territories for Medical Assistant pay. Only a handful of states pay more. The state employs 117,060 Medical Assistants, one of the larger workforces in the country for this role.

Entry-level Medical Assistants in California typically start around $18.89 an hour, or about $39,290 a year, according to the same wage data. Pay tends to move up toward the state's typical pay within the first few years on the job. New graduates and those in their first clinical roles typically fall into this range before gaining experience.

Experienced Medical Assistants in California often earn upwards of $29.75 an hour ($61,870 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $37.16 an hour, or $77,300 a year. That leaves a spread of $38,010 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a role in where an individual Medical Assistant falls within that range.

California's typical pay for Medical Assistants rose from $33,850 in 2015 to $49,660 in 2025, a dollar gain of $15,810. That amounts to a 47% increase over the decade. Pay climbed nearly every year across that stretch, with the sharpest jumps between 2021 and 2023.

Nationally, Medical Assistant pay rose 49% over the same decade, just ahead of California's 47% gain. Pay for the role has moved up steadily in both cases, though nothing about the future is guaranteed. Someone starting out today enters a field where pay has trended upward for ten straight years.

Pay runs highest in Vallejo, where Medical Assistants earn $77,410 a year ($37.22 an hour), about 56% above the statewide typical pay. Santa Rosa and Petaluma follow at $64,820 a year, and Napa is close behind at $62,050. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

At the other end, Merced pays the least, with Medical Assistants earning $39,800 a year ($19.13 an hour), giving the state a city-to-city spread of $37,610. Long Beach has the largest Medical Assistant workforce of any California city, with 39,770 employed there at a typical pay of $47,760 a year. Cities with higher pay, like those in the Bay Area, tend to carry a higher cost of living, which the extra pay helps offset.

California's neighbors are mixed. Oregon pays Medical Assistants close to California's level, at $50,410 a year, about 2% higher. Arizona and Nevada both pay less, with Arizona at $45,940 a year (7% lower) and Nevada at $45,200 a year (9% lower), likely reflecting a lower cost of living in those states. Medical Assistant licensure or certification requirements can often transfer or be endorsed between neighboring states, though applicants should confirm specifics with the relevant state board.

Medical Assistants in California typically earn $49,660 a year ($23.88 an hour), up 47% over the past decade. Pay varies significantly by city and experience level, from around $39,290 for entry-level roles to over $77,300 for top earners. Readers weighing a move into the field can check California's medical assistant certification and registry requirements, and consult city-level pages here for local pay figures before deciding where to work.