How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Salem, OR in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Salem, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Oregon.
BLS OES May 2025 · Salem metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Salem, Oregon earns $24.15 per hour, or $50,240 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,187 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $43,630, and the top 10% of earners make over $62,160.
That pay is right at the Oregon figure of $50,410 and 10% above the national figure of $45,690. Salem ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Oregon for Medical Assistant pay. About 1,090 Medical Assistants work in the Salem area.
Medical Assistant pay in Salem at a glance
- Typical pay is $24.15 an hour, or $50,240 a year.
- That is right at the Oregon figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $43,630; the top 10% make over $62,160.
- Typical pay rose +46% from 2015 to 2025, against +45% for Oregon as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Salem?
Pay in Salem runs from entry-level positions at around $20.98 an hour to more than $29.88 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Oregon and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Salem
| Career stage | Salem | Oregon | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $43,630$20.98 an hour | $43,760$21.04 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $47,700$22.93 an hour | $47,170$22.68 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $50,240$24.15 an hour | $50,410$24.24 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $59,400$28.56 an hour | $59,160$28.44 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $62,160$29.88 an hour | $62,160$29.88 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Salem area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Salem
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Salem area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Salem was $34,350 a year. By 2025 it had reached $50,240, a change of +46%, compared with +45% for Oregon over the same years.
How Salem compares with other Oregon cities
Portland pays Medical Assistants the most in Oregon at $56,240 a year, $6,000 more than Salem. The lowest-paying area in the state is Grants Pass at $48,610.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Salem | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland | $56,240 | $27.04 | +12% | 6,390 |
| 2 | Albany | $50,480 | $24.27 | 0% | 200 |
| 3 | Salem | $50,240 | $24.15 | this city | 1,090 |
| 4 | Bend | $50,080 | $24.08 | 0% | 840 |
| 5 | Eugene metro incl. Springfield | $49,980 | $24.03 | -1% | 1,040 |
| 6 | Corvallis | $48,890 | $23.51 | -3% | 340 |
| 7 | Medford | $48,820 | $23.47 | -3% | 900 |
| 8 | Grants Pass | $48,610 | $23.37 | -3% | 220 |
Every metro area in Oregon with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Oregon typical pay $50,410
Is Salem a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Salem earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $50,240 a year, 10% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Salem area, about 5.8 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.3. Medical Assistant jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Salem, OR?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Salem earns $50,240 a year, or $24.15 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $43,630 and the top 10% earn over $62,160.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Salem?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Salem is $24.15. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $20.98, and the top 10% earn over $29.88 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Salem?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Salem typically offer around $20.98 an hour, or $43,630 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Salem higher than in the rest of Oregon?
- Salem pay is right at the Oregon figure of $50,410 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Portland pays the most in Oregon at $56,240.