How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Wilmington, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Wilmington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Wilmington metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Wilmington, North Carolina earns $20.19 per hour, or $42,000 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,500 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,390, and the top 10% of earners make over $50,290.
That pay is 7% below the North Carolina figure of $45,140 and 8% below the national figure of $45,690. Wilmington ranks 12th of 16 metro areas in North Carolina for Medical Assistant pay. About 1,150 Medical Assistants work in the Wilmington area.
Medical Assistant pay in Wilmington at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.19 an hour, or $42,000 a year.
- That is 7% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 12th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,390; the top 10% make over $50,290.
- Typical pay rose +38% from 2015 to 2025, against +51% for North Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Wilmington?
Pay in Wilmington runs from entry-level positions at around $16.53 an hour to more than $24.18 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 Wilmington
| Career stage | Wilmington | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $34,390$16.53 an hour | $36,010$17.31 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $37,620$18.09 an hour | $38,490$18.51 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $42,000$20.19 an hour | $45,140$21.70 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,330$22.28 an hour | $47,500$22.84 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $50,290$24.18 an hour | $50,850$24.45 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Wilmington area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Wilmington
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Wilmington area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Wilmington was $30,420 a year. By 2025 it had reached $42,000, a change of +38%, compared with +51% for North Carolina over the same years.
How Wilmington compares with other North Carolina cities
Charlotte pays Medical Assistants the most in North Carolina at $46,520 a year, $4,520 more than Wilmington. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jacksonville at $37,420.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Wilmington | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte | $46,520 | $22.36 | +11% | 6,060 |
| 2 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $46,450 | $22.33 | +11% | 1,800 |
| 3 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $46,160 | $22.19 | +10% | 3,810 |
| 4 | Greensboro metro incl. High Point | $46,090 | $22.16 | +10% | 1,730 |
| 5 | Salem metro incl. Winston | $45,810 | $22.03 | +9% | 1,350 |
| 6 | Greenville | $44,650 | $21.47 | +6% | 600 |
| 7 | Asheville | $44,420 | $21.36 | +6% | 1,470 |
| 8 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $43,620 | $20.97 | +4% | 3,040 |
| 9 | Southern Pines metro incl. Pinehurst | $43,530 | $20.93 | +4% | 310 |
| 10 | Lenoir | $43,290 | $20.81 | +3% | 820 |
| 11 | Burlington | $43,250 | $20.79 | +3% | 310 |
| 12 | Wilmington | $42,000 | $20.19 | this city | 1,150 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount | $39,950 | $19.21 | -5% | 150 |
| 14 | Fayetteville | $39,870 | $19.17 | -5% | 680 |
| 15 | Goldsboro | $38,210 | $18.37 | -9% | 140 |
| 16 | Jacksonville | $37,420 | $17.99 | -11% | 220 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $45,140
Is Wilmington a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Wilmington earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $42,000 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Wilmington area, about 6.0 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.2. That makes the local economy more reliant on Medical Assistants than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Wilmington, NC?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Wilmington earns $42,000 a year, or $20.19 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $34,390 and the top 10% earn over $50,290.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Wilmington?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Wilmington is $20.19. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.53, and the top 10% earn over $24.18 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Wilmington?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Wilmington typically offer around $16.53 an hour, or $34,390 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Wilmington higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Wilmington pay is 7% below the North Carolina figure of $45,140 a year, ranking 12th of 16 metro areas in the state. Charlotte pays the most in North Carolina at $46,520.