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

A typical Medical Assistant in Michigan earns about $19.17 per hour ($39,870 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that comes to roughly $3,322 a month and $767 a week, calculated from the annual figure. These figures reflect typical pay across the state as a whole. Individual cities and experience levels can push pay higher or lower than this point.

Michigan's typical pay runs 13% below the national figure of $45,690 a year for Medical Assistants. That gap places Michigan 40th among the 51 states and territories ranked for this occupation. Roughly 27,810 people work as Medical Assistants across Michigan, giving the comparison scale. Lower pay in Michigan tracks with a lower cost of living in much of the state compared to higher-cost markets elsewhere.

Entry-level positions in Michigan typically offer around $16.83 an hour ($35,000 a year), based on wages reported for the lowest-earning tier of Medical Assistants. New hires and those just out of training programs tend to land in this range. Pay generally moves toward the state's typical figure of $39,870 within the first few years on the job. Clinical experience and additional certifications tend to speed that climb.

Experienced Medical Assistants in Michigan often earn upwards of $22 to $23 an hour, with the top 10% of earners making over $23.23 an hour ($48,330 a year). That leaves a spread of $13,330 between entry-level and top-tier pay in the state. Setting matters: specialty clinics and hospital systems tend to pay more than small private practices, and experience and city location factor in as well.

Michigan's typical pay for Medical Assistants climbed from $29,080 in 2015 to $39,870 in 2025. That's a gain of $10,790, or a 37% rise over the decade. The increase was steady year over year, without sharp swings up or down. By 2025, typical pay had grown by more than a third of its 2015 level.

Nationally, typical pay for Medical Assistants rose 49% over the same decade, a faster pace than Michigan's climb. That gap suggests Michigan's wage growth has trailed the country's overall pace, even as dollar figures moved up each year in the state. For someone starting out now, pay has moved higher over time in Michigan, though that trend comes with no guarantee for future years.

Pay runs highest in Kalamazoo, where Medical Assistants typically earn $46,690 a year ($22.45 an hour), about 17% above the state figure. These figures reflect the full Kalamazoo metro area, not just the city itself. Portage, part of the same metro area, matches that figure exactly. Ann Arbor and Traverse City also pay above the state typical, at $43,180 and $42,580 a year respectively.

Monroe pays the least among Michigan's tracked cities, with Medical Assistants typically earning $36,150 a year ($17.38 an hour). That's a spread of $10,540 between Michigan's highest- and lowest-paying cities. Detroit employs the most Medical Assistants of any Michigan city, with 12,400 workers earning $39,410 a year typically. Cities with higher pay generally carry a higher cost of living, which tends to offset some of the difference in take-home value.

Michigan's neighbors generally pay more for Medical Assistants. Wisconsin offers the highest typical pay among them at $48,680 a year, 22% above Michigan's figure. Indiana follows at $45,110 a year, about 13% higher, while Ohio pays $42,810 a year, roughly 7% above Michigan. Medical Assistant licensing or certification earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary by state board.

Medical Assistants in Michigan typically earn $39,870 a year ($19.17 an hour), a figure that has risen 37% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience level, with entry-level positions starting lower and top earners making considerably more. Readers weighing a move into the field, or between cities, can check Michigan's state licensing or registry page for requirements and the individual city pages for local pay figures.