How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Chesapeake, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Chesapeake, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Chesapeake, North Carolina earns $20.97 per hour, or $43,620 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,635 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,280, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,100.
That pay is 3% below the North Carolina figure of $45,140 and 5% below the national figure of $45,690. Chesapeake ranks 8th of 16 metro areas in North Carolina for Medical Assistant pay. About 3,040 Medical Assistants work in the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area. Chesapeake is part of the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Norfolk share these figures.
Medical Assistant pay in Chesapeake at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.97 an hour, or $43,620 a year.
- That is 3% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 8th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,280; the top 10% make over $47,100.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Chesapeake?
Pay in Chesapeake runs from entry-level positions at around $17.92 an hour to more than $22.64 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Chesapeake
| Career stage | Chesapeake | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,280$17.92 an hour | $36,010$17.31 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $38,340$18.43 an hour | $38,490$18.51 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $43,620$20.97 an hour | $45,140$21.70 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,170$22.20 an hour | $47,500$22.84 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,100$22.64 an hour | $50,850$24.45 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area as BLS defines it
How Chesapeake compares with other North Carolina cities
Charlotte pays Medical Assistants the most in North Carolina at $46,520 a year, $2,900 more than Chesapeake. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jacksonville at $37,420.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chesapeake | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte | $46,520 | $22.36 | +7% | 6,060 |
| 2 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $46,450 | $22.33 | +6% | 1,800 |
| 3 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $46,160 | $22.19 | +6% | 3,810 |
| 4 | Greensboro metro incl. High Point | $46,090 | $22.16 | +6% | 1,730 |
| 5 | Salem metro incl. Winston | $45,810 | $22.03 | +5% | 1,350 |
| 6 | Greenville | $44,650 | $21.47 | +2% | 600 |
| 7 | Asheville | $44,420 | $21.36 | +2% | 1,470 |
| 8 | Chesapeake metro incl. Norfolk | $43,620 | $20.97 | this city | 3,040 |
| 9 | Southern Pines metro incl. Pinehurst | $43,530 | $20.93 | 0% | 310 |
| 10 | Lenoir | $43,290 | $20.81 | -1% | 820 |
| 11 | Burlington | $43,250 | $20.79 | -1% | 310 |
| 12 | Wilmington | $42,000 | $20.19 | -4% | 1,150 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount | $39,950 | $19.21 | -8% | 150 |
| 14 | Fayetteville | $39,870 | $19.17 | -9% | 680 |
| 15 | Goldsboro | $38,210 | $18.37 | -12% | 140 |
| 16 | Jacksonville | $37,420 | $17.99 | -14% | 220 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $45,140
Is Chesapeake a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Chesapeake earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $43,620 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area, about 4.0 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.2. That makes Medical Assistants a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Chesapeake, NC?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Chesapeake earns $43,620 a year, or $20.97 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,280 and the top 10% earn over $47,100.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Chesapeake?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Chesapeake is $20.97. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.92, and the top 10% earn over $22.64 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Chesapeake?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Chesapeake typically offer around $17.92 an hour, or $37,280 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Chesapeake higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Chesapeake pay is 3% below the North Carolina figure of $45,140 a year, ranking 8th of 16 metro areas in the state. Charlotte pays the most in North Carolina at $46,520.