Entry-Level Medical Assistant Salary in Grants Pass, OR: $43,814 (2026)
Quick Answer:New medical assistants entering the Grants Pass, OR job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $43,814 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 31-9092, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Grants Pass's local price level (BEA RPP 97.8 — 2% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $44,818 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($51,026) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
Pursuing a career as a medical assistant in Grants Pass, Oregon, can offer new graduates a promising start, especially in 2026 when entry-level positions yield salaries beginning around $43,814. This figure is slightly lower than the citywide median annual salary of $51,026, highlighting a gap that many entry-level professionals will aim to bridge in their early years. With a growth trajectory moving from the starting salary through a potential $49,105 at the 25th percentile, new medical assistants can expect to see gradual increases over the first few years of their careers. Given the 4.97% annual growth rate projected for this position, Grants Pass currently represents a favorable job market for recent graduates seeking to launch their careers in healthcare.
Career Earnings Timeline in Grants Pass
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 Grants Pass
Entry-level medical assistants in Grants Pass, OR typically start between $43,814 and $49,105 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $18,801 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $51,026 — 6.39% above the national median.
Return on Investment
The average medical assisting program cost in Oregon of $9,000 represents just 20.54% of the starting medical assistant pay ($43,814/year) in Grants Pass. 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 Grants Pass
- 1Research the Grants Pass market: entry-level medical assistant pay ranges from $43,814 to $49,105, 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 OR often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Grants Pass, 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 Grants Pass for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Grants Pass's moderate 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 Grants Pass is $18,801 ( 42.91%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $43,814, experienced hygienists can earn up to $62,615.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$25,520
2025 BLS Actual
$41,740
2026 Current Est.
$43,814
2019–2027 Growth
+80.2%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Grants Pass (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $25,520 | Actual |
| 2020 | $32,520 | Actual |
| 2021 | $35,590 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,270 | Actual |
| 2023 | $38,200 | Actual |
| 2024 | $39,710 | Actual |
| 2025 | $41,740 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $43,814 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $45,992 | Projected |
Entry-level medical assistant compensation (10th percentile) in Grants Pass, OR grew 63.6% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $25,520 in 2019 to $41,740 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $45,992. New graduates entering the Grants Pass job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Grants Pass 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 Grants Pass
In Grants Pass, primary care offices and urgent care chains frequently hire newly graduated medical assistants, providing structured onboarding and opportunities for rapid skill development. Those entering the field can enhance their qualifications through accredited diploma or associate programs, with national certifications such as CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), CCMA (NHA), or NCMA (NCCT) serving as significant differentiators in the job market. Employers in specialty practices like dermatology and orthopedics may prefer 1-2 years of experience, but entry-level candidates can find promising roles that lead to future advancement, especially given the high demand for MAs in corporate occupational health and community health centers. Realistically, professionals can anticipate salary growth as they gain experience, applying their skills in high-demand settings and capitalizing on the considerable growth potential within the healthcare sector.
More salary data for Grants Pass, OR:
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 Grants Pass. 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