Entry-Level Medical Assistant Salary in Medford, OR: $46,407 (2026)
Quick Answer:New medical assistants entering the Medford, OR job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $46,407 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 31-9092, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Medford's local price level (BEA RPP 101.4 — 1% above national), a first-year paycheck buys what $45,751 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($51,246) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
New graduates entering the medical assistant field in Medford, Oregon, can expect a starting salary around $46,407 in 2026. This entry-level pay rate represents a gap when compared to the city's median annual salary of $51,246. However, as new medical assistants gain experience, they can anticipate upward movement, with pay potentially rising to approximately $48,969 within their first few years. Given the projected annual growth rate of 4.97% for this role, Medford presents a viable job market for fresh graduates. With a growing healthcare sector, new medical assistants can find opportunities that not only support their initial career objectives but also allow them to build a sustainable income trajectory.
Career Earnings Timeline in Medford
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 Medford
Entry-level medical assistants in Medford, OR typically start between $46,407 and $48,969 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $14,728 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $51,246 — 6.85% above the national median.
Return on Investment
The average medical assisting program cost in Oregon of $9,000 represents just 19.39% of the starting medical assistant pay ($46,407/year) in Medford. 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 Medford
- 1Research the Medford market: entry-level medical assistant pay ranges from $46,407 to $48,969, 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 Medford, 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 Medford for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Medford'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 Medford is $14,728 ( 31.74%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $46,407, experienced hygienists can earn up to $61,135.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$30,700
2025 BLS Actual
$44,210
2026 Current Est.
$46,407
2019–2027 Growth
+58.7%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Medford (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $30,700 | Actual |
| 2020 | $32,760 | Actual |
| 2021 | $35,740 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,800 | Actual |
| 2023 | $38,700 | Actual |
| 2024 | $40,720 | Actual |
| 2025 | $44,210 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $46,407 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $48,714 | Projected |
Entry-level medical assistant compensation (10th percentile) in Medford, OR grew 44.0% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $30,700 in 2019 to $44,210 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $48,714. New graduates entering the Medford job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Medford 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 Medford
In Medford, key employers such as primary care offices and urgent care chains are known for hiring new graduates, often providing structured onboarding programs that help ease the transition into the workforce. Specialty practices, like dermatology and orthopedics, generally seek candidates with 1-2 years of experience, while Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) cater to new hires and offer attractive benefits such as National Health Service Corps loan repayment. Aspiring medical assistants can enhance their starting medical assistant salary in Medford by obtaining national certifications like CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), or CCMA (NHA), as well as acquiring CPR and basic phlebotomy skills. As the demand for medical assistants continues to grow at a rapid pace across various healthcare settings, those who strategically pursue relevant credentials and experience in Medford can realistically see an increase in their pay within the first three years, particularly if they target specialty roles that pay a premium of 20-40%.
More salary data for Medford, 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 Medford. 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