How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Harrisburg, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Harrisburg, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Harrisburg · Carlisle metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania earns $21.07 per hour, or $43,820 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,652 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,140, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,130.
That pay is right at the Pennsylvania figure of $43,920 and 4% below the national figure of $45,690. Harrisburg ranks 5th of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for Medical Assistant pay. About 1,370 Medical Assistants work in the Harrisburg · Carlisle area. Harrisburg is part of the Harrisburg · Carlisle metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Carlisle share these figures.
Medical Assistant pay in Harrisburg at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.07 an hour, or $43,820 a year.
- That is right at the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 5th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,140; the top 10% make over $47,130.
- Typical pay rose +46% from 2015 to 2025, against +49% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Harrisburg?
Pay in Harrisburg runs from entry-level positions at around $17.86 an hour to more than $22.66 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 Harrisburg
| Career stage | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,140$17.86 an hour | $36,810$17.70 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $39,480$18.98 an hour | $38,950$18.72 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $43,820$21.07 an hour | $43,920$21.12 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,250$21.75 an hour | $46,490$22.35 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,130$22.66 an hour | $48,500$23.32 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Harrisburg · Carlisle area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Harrisburg
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Harrisburg · Carlisle area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Harrisburg was $30,030 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,820, a change of +46%, compared with +49% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How Harrisburg compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays Medical Assistants the most in Pennsylvania at $45,890 a year, $2,070 more than Harrisburg. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnstown at $38,400.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Harrisburg | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $45,890 | $22.06 | +5% | 13,150 |
| 2 | Reading | $45,610 | $21.93 | +4% | 730 |
| 3 | Allentown | $45,400 | $21.83 | +4% | 1,640 |
| 4 | Chambersburg | $43,830 | $21.07 | 0% | 240 |
| 5 | Harrisburg metro incl. Carlisle | $43,820 | $21.07 | this city | 1,370 |
| 6 | Hanover metro incl. York | $43,620 | $20.97 | 0% | 710 |
| 7 | Lebanon | $43,490 | $20.91 | -1% | 180 |
| 8 | Gettysburg | $43,480 | $20.91 | -1% | 140 |
| 9 | Lancaster | $42,910 | $20.63 | -2% | 770 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | $42,840 | $20.60 | -2% | 4,810 |
| 11 | Scranton | $42,760 | $20.56 | -2% | 840 |
| 12 | State College | $42,720 | $20.54 | -3% | 180 |
| 13 | Williamsport | $40,530 | $19.49 | -8% | 180 |
| 14 | Erie | $39,640 | $19.06 | -10% | 460 |
| 15 | Altoona | $39,140 | $18.82 | -11% | 270 |
| 16 | Johnstown | $38,400 | $18.46 | -12% | 140 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $43,920
Is Harrisburg a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistant pay in Harrisburg sits close to the national figure: $43,820 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Harrisburg · Carlisle area, about 4.1 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 Harrisburg, PA?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Harrisburg earns $43,820 a year, or $21.07 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,140 and the top 10% earn over $47,130.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Harrisburg?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Harrisburg is $21.07. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.86, and the top 10% earn over $22.66 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Harrisburg?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Harrisburg typically offer around $17.86 an hour, or $37,140 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Harrisburg higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Harrisburg pay is right at the Pennsylvania figure of $43,920 a year, ranking 5th of 16 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $45,890.