How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in West Virginia in 2026?

A typical Medical Assistant in West Virginia earns about $17.87 per hour, or $37,180 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $3,098 a month and $715 a week, based on the annual figure. Actual pay varies by employer, setting, and city within the state.

That figure runs 19% below the national figure of $45,690 a year, placing West Virginia 48th among the 51 states and Washington, D.C. Lower pay in the state often tracks a lower cost of living. About 4,540 Medical Assistants work across West Virginia, a workforce size that shapes typical pay in the state's hospitals and clinics.

Entry-level positions in West Virginia typically offer around $14.85 an hour, or about $30,890 a year, for those just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $37,180 within the first few years on the job. New Medical Assistants often start in smaller practices or entry clinical roles before moving into higher-paying settings.

Experienced Medical Assistants in West Virginia often earn upwards of $19.78 an hour, or around $41,140 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $45,350 a year, well above the entry-level figure. That leaves a spread of $14,460 between entry-level and top-tier pay, driven mostly by years of experience, the type of practice, and which city a Medical Assistant works in.

West Virginia's typical Medical Assistant pay has risen steadily over the past decade, climbing from $25,080 in 2015 to $37,180 in 2025. That is a gain of $12,100, a 48% rise over ten years. The increase has been fairly steady each year, with a bigger jump between 2022 and 2023.

Nationally, typical Medical Assistant pay rose 49% over the same ten years, just ahead of West Virginia's pace. Pay in the state has moved up consistently rather than staying flat, though future gains are not guaranteed. Someone starting out now enters a field where pay has trended upward for a decade.

Pay runs highest in Martinsburg, where Medical Assistants earn $42,230 a year, about 14% above the statewide figure. These figures cover the full Martinsburg metro area. Charleston follows at $38,190 a year, and Huntington pays $37,500 a year, both closer to the statewide typical pay.

Pay is lowest in Beckley, at $36,190 a year, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $6,040. Huntington has the largest Medical Assistant workforce in the state, with 1,040 employed there. Cities with higher pay generally also carry a higher cost of living, so the gap in take-home value is often smaller than the wage gap alone suggests.

West Virginia's Medical Assistant pay trails every neighboring state. Maryland pays the most nearby, at $46,410 a year, 25% higher than West Virginia. Virginia follows at $44,740, about 20% higher, while Kentucky comes closest at $39,270, just 6% above. Pennsylvania and Ohio also pay more, at $43,920 and $42,810. Medical Assistant licensing and certification requirements can often transfer or be endorsed between neighboring states, which can ease a move across the border.

Medical Assistants in West Virginia typically earn $37,180 a year, up 48% from $25,080 in 2015. Pay runs below the national figure but has moved steadily upward over the past decade, with the highest pay found in Martinsburg and the largest workforce in Huntington. Readers weighing a move into the field can check West Virginia's licensing or registry requirements for specifics, and compare city-level figures for a closer look at local pay.