Medical Assistant Salary in San Francisco, CA: $62,762 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical assistant in San Francisco, CA earns a median $62,762/year (≈ $30.18/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9092). Once you factor in San Francisco's price level (16% above national, BEA RPP 115.6), that paycheck buys what $54,286 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 21.0% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In San Francisco, CA, the medical assistant salary is significantly above the national average, with a median annual income projected to reach $62,762 in 2026. The salary range extends from $49,409 at the lower end to $83,714 for those at the highest percentile, reflecting the diverse demographics and healthcare landscape of the city. Such figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and highlight the premium placed on bilingual medical assistants, who often command higher salaries due to their ability to serve San Francisco's multicultural population. The robust compensation packages align with the city's growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals, particularly in environments that require direct patient interaction.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,409 | $23.75 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52,611 | $25.30 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,762 | $30.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81,100 | $38.99 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $83,714 | $40.25 |
Median Salary Position
30.86% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Francisco
In San Francisco, CA, the medical assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $34,305 (2026 est.). At $62,762, the local median is 30.86% above the national median of $47,961.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in San Francisco: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How San Francisco Medical Assistant Pay Compares
San Francisco median: $62,762/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | San Francisco Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $51,869 | +21.00% more |
| National Average | $47,961 | +30.86% more |
Medical Assistants in San Francisco, CA earn a median of $62,762 per year (2026 est.), which is 30.86% higher than the national median of $47,961 and 21.00% above the California state average of $51,869.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
San Francisco has a cost of living 15.61% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
San Francisco, CA has a cost-of-living index of 115.613 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $62,762 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $54,286 — a 13.5% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$48,370
2025 BLS Actual
$59,790
2026 Current Est.
$62,762
2019–2027 Growth
+36.2%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in San Francisco (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48,370 | Actual |
| 2020 | $55,780 | Actual |
| 2021 | $55,650 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,630 | Actual |
| 2023 | $59,770 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,910 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,790 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,762 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,881 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Francisco metropolitan area, the median medical assistant salary grew 23.6% from $48,370 (2019) to $59,790 (2025). At a 4.97% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,881 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,511 (36.20%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Francisco 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $49,409 – $52,611 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $52,611 – $62,762 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,762 – $81,100 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $81,100 – $83,714 |
MA, CMA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Assistant Job Market in San Francisco
With 14,320 medical assistants currently employed in the area, the local job market remains strong, largely due to a steady growth rate of 4.97% annually in this sector. However, the cost of living in San Francisco adds complexity to these figures, with a cost of living index of 115.613 revealing that higher salaries may not stretch as far in terms of purchasing power. Employers in specialty practices such as cardiology and dermatology frequently offer more competitive pay than primary care settings, driven by the demand for specialized skills and certifications that augment a medical assistant's qualifications. To enhance earning potential, pursuing additional certifications or bilingual training can be advantageous, while seeking employment at urgent care chains or corporate health clinics may also yield increased compensation. Navigating these opportunities within the vibrant San Francisco healthcare scene can ultimately lead to substantial financial rewards for current and aspiring medical assistants.
More salary data for San Francisco, CA:
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
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 BLS reported a median annual salary of $59,790 for medical assistantsin the San Francisco metropolitan area. A 4.97% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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