Entry-Level Medical Assistant Salary in San Antonio, TX: $37,737 (2026)
Quick Answer:New medical assistants entering the San Antonio, TX job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $37,737 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 31-9092, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out San Antonio's local price level (BEA RPP 94.7 — 5% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $39,842 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($41,127) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
The prospects for new graduates entering the medical assistant field in San Antonio, TX, are shaped by a starting salary that typically lies around $37,737. This figure is notably below the city’s median annual salary of $41,127, leaving a gap that new entrants should consider when evaluating job offers. However, there is a clear upward trajectory in pay for early-career professionals, moving from the starting point towards $39,269 after gaining some experience, and eventually reaching the median salary within a few years. With a growth rate of 4.97%, the San Antonio market is actually favorable for new medical assistants, making it a viable option for recent graduates in 2026.
Career Earnings Timeline in San Antonio
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 San Antonio
Entry-level medical assistants in San Antonio, TX typically start between $37,737 and $39,269 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $11,462 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $41,127 — 14.25% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average medical assisting program cost in Texas of $6,500 represents just 17.22% of the starting medical assistant pay ($37,737/year) in San Antonio. 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 San Antonio
- 1Research the San Antonio market: entry-level medical assistant pay ranges from $37,737 to $39,269, 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 TX often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in San Antonio, 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 San Antonio for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5San Antonio'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 San Antonio is $11,462 ( 30.37%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $37,737, experienced hygienists can earn up to $49,199.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$24,890
2025 BLS Actual
$35,950
2026 Current Est.
$37,737
2019–2027 Growth
+59.1%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in San Antonio (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24,890 | Actual |
| 2020 | $25,640 | Actual |
| 2021 | $28,820 | Actual |
| 2022 | $29,600 | Actual |
| 2023 | $31,520 | Actual |
| 2024 | $35,550 | Actual |
| 2025 | $35,950 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $37,737 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $39,612 | Projected |
Entry-level medical assistant compensation (10th percentile) in San Antonio, TX grew 44.4% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $24,890 in 2019 to $35,950 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $39,612. New graduates entering the San Antonio job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Antonio 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 San Antonio
Employers in San Antonio that frequently hire entry-level medical assistants include primary care offices and urgent care chains, which often provide structured onboarding programs suitable for new grads. Specialty practices like dermatology and orthopedics typically prefer candidates with 1-2 years of experience, while Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) may offer unique positions that include benefits such as loan repayment for National Health Service Corps participants. To increase starting pay, new graduates benefit from obtaining credentials like a diploma or associate's degree from accredited programs, along with certification from recognized bodies such as AAMA, AMT, NHA, or NCCT. As the need for medical assistants grows, there are ample opportunities in primary care and corporate occupational health settings, where entry-level employees can realistically expect salary increases over their first few years, especially if they pursue additional certifications in specialized areas like phlebotomy or EKG.
More salary data for San Antonio, TX:
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 San Antonio. 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