Medical Assistant Pay

Riverside vs Roseville: Medical Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare medical assistant salaries between Riverside, CA and Roseville, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Riverside, CA
$49,021
$23.57/hr
Roseville, CA
$64,782
$31.14/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRiverside, CARoseville, CA
Median Salary$49,021$64,782
Hourly Rate$23.57$31.14
Entry Level (P10)$40,455$52,400
25th Percentile$47,467$55,310
75th Percentile$53,650$68,989
Top Earner (P90)$65,459$86,816
Total Employed11,28035
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Riverside ($49,021) and Roseville ($64,782) medical assistant salaries.RiversideRosevilleMedian Salary$49,021$64,782Entry Level (P10)$40,455$52,400Top Earner (P90)$65,459$86,816US Median $47,961

Verdict

Roseville, CA offers better overall compensation for medical assistants, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Riverside.

The salary gap between Riverside and Roseville is $15,761 (32.15%). Roseville's median is +35.07% compared to the US national median of $47,961.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Riverside spans $25,004,Roseville spans $34,416. Roseville has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical assistants.

Riverside
P10 (Entry)$40,455
P25$47,467
Median$49,021
P75$53,650
P90 (Top)$65,459
Roseville
P10 (Entry)$52,400
P25$55,310
Median$64,782
P75$68,989
P90 (Top)$86,816

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Roseville ($57,279 effective) pays 24.37% more than Riverside ($46,054 effective).

Riverside
Nominal: $49,021
CoL Index: 106.442
Adjusted: $46,054
Roseville
Nominal: $64,782
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $57,279

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Riverside if…

  • Larger job market (11,280 employed)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Roseville if…

  • Higher median salary ($64,782/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($86,816)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $57,279)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical assistant salaries in Riverside grew 41.2% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 4.3% growth in Roseville over the same period.

Riverside, CA

+41.2%

$33,080 (2019) → $46,700 (2025)

Roseville, CA

+4.3%

$59,155 (2024) → $61,715 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical assistants more: Riverside or Roseville?

Roseville has a higher median medical assistant salary at $64,782/year, compared to Riverside at $49,021/year — a difference of $15,761 (32.15%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Riverside and Roseville?

Riverside medical assistants earn $23.57/hr while Roseville hygienists earn $31.14/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Riverside to Roseville as a medical assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Riverside and Roseville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Riverside = $46,054, Roseville = $57,279), job availability (11,280 vs 35 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical assistants earn in Riverside vs Roseville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical assistants earn $40,455 in Riverside and $52,400 in Roseville. The Roseville area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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Written by Emma Chen, CMA

Career Analyst

Emma has over 8 years of experience as a medical assistant. She has worked in both outpatient clinics and hospitals. Her expertise includes patient care and administrative support.

Clinically reviewed by Carlos Rodriguez, RMAData verified by Sofia Patel, CCMA

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 4.97% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Emma Chen, CMA, a licensed medical assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov