Entry-Level Medical Assistant Salary in Duluth, MN: $39,511 (2026)
Quick Answer:New medical assistants entering the Duluth, MN job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $39,511 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 31-9092, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Duluth's local price level (BEA RPP 88.8 — 11% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $44,510 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($50,375) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
Starting new graduates in Duluth can expect an entry level medical assistant salary of approximately $39,511 in 2026, significantly below the city's median annual pay of $50,375. This initial figure presents a gap that entry-level professionals might find challenging, but it does represent a solid foundation upon which they can build their careers. Within the first few years, salaries typically rise as medical assistants gain experience and additional certifications; for instance, potential earnings can increase to around $41,831 after reaching the 25th percentile. This upward trajectory suggests a favorable job market for new grads in Duluth, where opportunities in healthcare continue to flourish, particularly given the consistent growth rate of 4.97% in the medical assistant profession.
Career Earnings Timeline in Duluth
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Duluth
Entry-level medical assistants in Duluth, MN typically start between $39,511 and $41,831 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $22,264 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $50,375 — 5.03% above the national median.
Return on Investment
The average medical assisting program cost in Minnesota of $9,000 represents just 22.78% of the starting medical assistant pay ($39,511/year) in Duluth. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates based on CAAHEP and ABHES-accredited medical assisting program data and community college tuition surveys. Tuition-only averages; actual costs vary by institution type (community college, private vocational) and program length.
MA, CMA Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Duluth
- 1Research the Duluth market: entry-level medical assistant pay ranges from $39,511 to $41,831, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the medical assisting field — employers in MN often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Duluth, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Duluth for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Duluth's below-average cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Medical Assistant Compensation Range
The medical assistant wage spread in Duluth is $22,264 ( 56.35%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $39,511, experienced hygienists can earn up to $61,775.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$29,830
2025 BLS Actual
$37,640
2026 Current Est.
$39,511
2019–2027 Growth
+39.0%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Duluth (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29,830 | Actual |
| 2020 | $28,820 | Actual |
| 2021 | $34,190 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,130 | Actual |
| 2023 | $37,040 | Actual |
| 2024 | $37,360 | Actual |
| 2025 | $37,640 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $39,511 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $41,474 | Projected |
Entry-level medical assistant compensation (10th percentile) in Duluth, MN grew 26.2% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $29,830 in 2019 to $37,640 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $41,474. New graduates entering the Duluth job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Duluth metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.97% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your medical assisting Career in Duluth
Employers in Duluth looking to hire new graduate medical assistants include primary care offices and urgent care chains, which often implement structured onboarding programs for recent entrants into the field. While specialty practices such as dermatology and orthopedic offices usually prefer candidates with 1-2 years of experience, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) may provide unique incentives like loan repayment options for those who qualify through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Increasing starting pay can be achieved through obtaining certifications, such as those from AAMA, AMT, NHA, or NCCT, as well as continuing education that focuses on specific skills like phlebotomy and EKG. In the competitive landscape of Duluth, early career strategies should focus on gaining experience in high-demand areas like primary care and occupational health, as these sectors absorb most of the employment growth and typically offer advancement pathways that lead to higher compensation in the future.
More salary data for Duluth, MN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new medical assisting graduates. A 4.97% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Duluth. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.97%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for medical assistants (SOC 31-9092).
Compiled and verified by Emma Chen, CMA, a licensed medical assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov