How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Altoona, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Altoona, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Altoona metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Altoona, Pennsylvania earns $18.82 per hour, or $39,140 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,262 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,090, and the top 10% of earners make over $45,350.
That pay is 11% below the Pennsylvania figure of $43,920 and 14% below the national figure of $45,690. Altoona ranks 15th of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for Medical Assistant pay. About 270 Medical Assistants work in the Altoona area.
Medical Assistant pay in Altoona at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.82 an hour, or $39,140 a year.
- That is 11% below the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 15th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,090; the top 10% make over $45,350.
- Typical pay rose +53% from 2015 to 2025, against +49% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Altoona?
Pay in Altoona runs from entry-level positions at around $16.87 an hour to more than $21.81 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Altoona
| Career stage | Altoona | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,090$16.87 an hour | $36,810$17.70 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $37,400$17.98 an hour | $38,950$18.72 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $39,140$18.82 an hour | $43,920$21.12 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $42,950$20.65 an hour | $46,490$22.35 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $45,350$21.81 an hour | $48,500$23.32 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Altoona area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Altoona
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Altoona area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Altoona was $25,530 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,140, a change of +53%, compared with +49% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How Altoona compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays Medical Assistants the most in Pennsylvania at $45,890 a year, $6,750 more than Altoona. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnstown at $38,400.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Altoona | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $45,890 | $22.06 | +17% | 13,150 |
| 2 | Reading | $45,610 | $21.93 | +17% | 730 |
| 3 | Allentown | $45,400 | $21.83 | +16% | 1,640 |
| 4 | Chambersburg | $43,830 | $21.07 | +12% | 240 |
| 5 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $43,820 | $21.07 | +12% | 1,370 |
| 6 | Hanover metro incl. York | $43,620 | $20.97 | +11% | 710 |
| 7 | Lebanon | $43,490 | $20.91 | +11% | 180 |
| 8 | Gettysburg | $43,480 | $20.91 | +11% | 140 |
| 9 | Lancaster | $42,910 | $20.63 | +10% | 770 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | $42,840 | $20.60 | +9% | 4,810 |
| 11 | Scranton | $42,760 | $20.56 | +9% | 840 |
| 12 | State College | $42,720 | $20.54 | +9% | 180 |
| 13 | Williamsport | $40,530 | $19.49 | +4% | 180 |
| 14 | Erie | $39,640 | $19.06 | +1% | 460 |
| 15 | Altoona | $39,140 | $18.82 | this city | 270 |
| 16 | Johnstown | $38,400 | $18.46 | -2% | 140 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $43,920
Is Altoona a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Altoona earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,140 a year, 14% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Altoona area, about 4.6 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 Altoona, PA?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Altoona earns $39,140 a year, or $18.82 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,090 and the top 10% earn over $45,350.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Altoona?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Altoona is $18.82. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.87, and the top 10% earn over $21.81 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Altoona?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Altoona typically offer around $16.87 an hour, or $35,090 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Altoona higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Altoona pay is 11% below the Pennsylvania figure of $43,920 a year, ranking 15th of 16 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $45,890.