Medical Assistant Salary in California: $54,272 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median medical assistant pay sits at $54,272/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9092. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $47,986 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Vallejo ($77,410), Santa Rosa ($64,820), Petaluma ($64,200).
In 2026, medical assistants in California are projected to earn an average median salary of $54,273, which is significantly higher than the national median of $47,961, reflecting a difference of 13.2%. The salary range varies considerably within the state, with Vallejo representing the highest pay at $81,257, while Merced offers the lowest at $41,778. This disparity is influenced by several factors including cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and local economic conditions. California's specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws can also impact salaries. Medical assistants in the state often engage in a broader range of duties compared to those in other regions, which may enhance their earning potential. The job market for medical assistants in California is strong, with a projected growth rate of 4.97% annually, indicating a steady demand for skilled professionals in this field. Noteworthy cities with competitive salaries include Santa Rosa at $68,042, Petaluma at $67,391, Sunnyvale at $66,545, and Santa Clara at $66,108. With a total of 115,489 medical assistants employed in the state, opportunities for advancement and employment are expected to continue growing in the coming years.
California Medical Assistant Salary Range
Overall salary range in California: $35,275 (lowest entry-level) to $88,798 (highest top earner)
California vs National Average
California medical assistants earn 13.16% more than the national median (+$6,311/year difference).
California Medical Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)
Medical Assistant salaries in California range from $43,530 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $75,665 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $54,272. The California median is $6,311 above the US national median of $47,961. The average hourly rate is $26.09/hr. Approximately 115,489 medical assistants are employed across 158 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$38,654
2025 BLS Actual
$51,703
2026 Current Est.
$54,272
2019–2027 Growth
+47.4%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in California (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38,654 | Actual |
| 2020 | $41,552 | Actual |
| 2021 | $42,493 | Actual |
| 2022 | $45,650 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,914 | Actual |
| 2024 | $50,873 | Actual |
| 2025 | $51,703 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54,272 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $56,970 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median medical assistant salary grew 33.8% from $38,654 (2019) to $51,703 (2025). At a 4.97% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $56,970 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,316 (47.38%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California
Lowest Paying Cities in California
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Merced | $41,778 |
| El Centro | $47,541 |
| Redding | $48,507 |
| Fresno | $48,811 |
| Bakersfield | $48,874 |
Best Value Cities for Medical Assistants in California
When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for medical assistants.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo | $81,257 | 108.479 | $74,906 |
| Santa Rosa | $68,042 | 107.784 | $63,128 |
| Sacramento | $65,050 | 106.67 | $60,982 |
| Petaluma | $67,391 | 113.1 | $59,585 |
| San Jose | $65,018 | 110.423 | $58,881 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in California
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $43,530 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $54,272 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $75,665 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 158 Cities in California
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallejo | $81,257 |
| 2 | Santa Rosa | $68,042 |
| 3 | Petaluma | $67,391 |
| 4 | Sunnyvale | $66,545 |
| 5 | Santa Clara | $66,108 |
| 6 | Folsom | $65,490 |
| 7 | Napa | $65,134 |
| 8 | Sacramento | $65,050 |
| 9 | San Jose | $65,018 |
| 10 | Roseville | $64,782 |
| 11 | Oakland | $64,190 |
| 12 | Fremont | $62,774 |
| 13 | San Francisco | $62,762 |
| 14 | Santa Ana | $54,964 |
| 15 | Fontana | $53,947 |
| 16 | Irvine | $53,888 |
| 17 | Pomona | $53,625 |
| 18 | Simi Valley | $53,596 |
| 19 | Escondido | $53,583 |
| 20 | Fairfield | $53,486 |
| 21 | Fullerton | $53,290 |
| 22 | Daly City | $53,244 |
| 23 | El Monte | $53,227 |
| 24 | Oxnard | $53,199 |
| 25 | Vista | $53,198 |
| 26 | Concord | $53,185 |
| 27 | Clovis | $53,105 |
| 28 | Garden Grove | $53,051 |
| 29 | Temecula | $53,038 |
| 30 | Santa Clarita | $53,003 |
| 31 | Thousand Oaks | $52,984 |
| 32 | Lancaster | $52,933 |
| 33 | Inglewood | $52,933 |
| 34 | Corona | $52,866 |
| 35 | Richmond | $52,858 |
| 36 | Rialto | $52,832 |
| 37 | Torrance | $52,766 |
| 38 | Elk Grove | $52,666 |
| 39 | Oceanside | $52,653 |
| 40 | Whittier | $52,637 |
| 41 | San Rafael | $52,633 |
| 42 | Rancho Cucamonga | $52,586 |
| 43 | Santa Cruz | $52,579 |
| 44 | Hayward | $52,556 |
| 45 | Woodland | $52,543 |
| 46 | Buena Park | $52,534 |
| 47 | Encinitas | $52,530 |
| 48 | Downey | $52,527 |
| 49 | Dublin | $52,498 |
| 50 | Redlands | $52,481 |
| 51 | Modesto | $52,475 |
| 52 | Chino | $52,452 |
| 53 | Westminster | $52,436 |
| 54 | Santa Monica | $52,431 |
| 55 | San Mateo | $52,426 |
| 56 | Tulare | $52,412 |
| 57 | San Buenaventura | $52,393 |
| 58 | Mission Viejo | $52,358 |
| 59 | Moreno Valley | $52,357 |
| 60 | Pleasanton | $52,350 |
| 61 | Pasadena | $52,275 |
| 62 | Santee | $52,238 |
| 63 | Glendale | $52,192 |
| 64 | Mountain View | $52,165 |
| 65 | Pittsburg | $52,161 |
| 66 | Novato | $52,144 |
| 67 | Costa Mesa | $52,125 |
| 68 | Berkeley | $52,070 |
| 69 | Huntington Beach | $52,058 |
| 70 | Jurupa Valley | $52,012 |
| 71 | Hemet | $51,996 |
| 72 | Union City | $51,993 |
| 73 | West Covina | $51,986 |
| 74 | San Luis Obispo | $51,981 |
| 75 | Chino Hills | $51,972 |
| 76 | Hanford | $51,971 |
| 77 | Santa Maria | $51,960 |
| 78 | Chula Vista | $51,936 |
| 79 | Gilroy | $51,897 |
| 80 | San Diego | $51,876 |
| 81 | San Marcos | $51,869 |
| 82 | Yuba City | $51,866 |
| 83 | Tustin | $51,824 |
| 84 | San Ramon | $51,819 |
| 85 | Eastvale | $51,770 |
| 86 | Murrieta | $51,768 |
| 87 | Vacaville | $51,768 |
| 88 | Brentwood | $51,746 |
| 89 | Hesperia | $51,721 |
| 90 | Lake Elsinore | $51,717 |
| 91 | Citrus Heights | $51,652 |
| 92 | El Cajon | $51,604 |
| 93 | San Clemente | $51,590 |
| 94 | Bellflower | $51,569 |
| 95 | Palmdale | $51,547 |
| 96 | La Mirada | $51,546 |
| 97 | Apple Valley | $51,536 |
| 98 | Menifee | $51,521 |
| 99 | Yucaipa | $51,499 |
| 100 | Norwalk | $51,496 |
| 101 | Rancho Cordova | $51,450 |
| 102 | Carlsbad | $51,443 |
| 103 | Montebello | $51,401 |
| 104 | Compton | $51,380 |
| 105 | Porterville | $51,343 |
| 106 | Lompoc | $51,337 |
| 107 | Salinas | $51,320 |
| 108 | Hawthorne | $51,257 |
| 109 | Antioch | $51,240 |
| 110 | Burbank | $51,236 |
| 111 | Alhambra | $51,117 |
| 112 | Livermore | $51,117 |
| 113 | Orange | $51,101 |
| 114 | South Gate | $51,100 |
| 115 | Victorville | $51,089 |
| 116 | West Sacramento | $51,072 |
| 117 | Poway | $51,058 |
| 118 | Anaheim | $51,026 |
| 119 | San Leandro | $50,989 |
| 120 | Indio | $50,932 |
| 121 | Lake Forest | $50,932 |
| 122 | Carson | $50,842 |
| 123 | Rocklin | $50,834 |
| 124 | Newport Beach | $50,748 |
| 125 | Redwood City | $50,744 |
| 126 | Turlock | $50,731 |
| 127 | Manteca | $50,714 |
| 128 | Perris | $50,710 |
| 129 | Madera | $50,669 |
| 130 | Baldwin Park | $50,579 |
| 131 | Palo Alto | $50,579 |
| 132 | Lakewood | $50,559 |
| 133 | Beaumont | $50,411 |
| 134 | Tracy | $50,398 |
| 135 | Alameda | $50,381 |
| 136 | Laguna Niguel | $50,369 |
| 137 | Milpitas | $50,345 |
| 138 | Long Beach | $50,301 |
| 139 | Camarillo | $50,238 |
| 140 | Stockton | $50,218 |
| 141 | Oakley | $50,218 |
| 142 | Davis | $50,205 |
| 143 | Upland | $50,168 |
| 144 | Los Angeles | $50,134 |
| 145 | La Habra | $50,094 |
| 146 | Lynwood | $50,074 |
| 147 | Ontario | $49,682 |
| 148 | Lodi | $49,525 |
| 149 | Chico | $49,493 |
| 150 | Visalia | $49,483 |
| 151 | Brea | $49,219 |
| 152 | San Bernardino | $49,082 |
| 153 | Riverside | $49,021 |
| 154 | Bakersfield | $48,874 |
| 155 | Fresno | $48,811 |
| 156 | Redding | $48,507 |
| 157 | El Centro | $47,541 |
| 158 | Merced | $41,778 |
More California Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore medical assistant hourly pay in California cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced medical assistants.
Compare Cities in California
View all comparisons →Explore More Medical Assistant Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical assistants make in California in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for medical assistants in California?
How does California medical assistant pay compare to the national average?
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Which California city offers the best value for medical assistants?
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
Statewide 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. A 4.97% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 medical assistant compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more medical assistantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
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