Medical Assistant Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA: $48,790 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical assistant in Cedar Rapids, IA earns a median $48,790/year (≈ $23.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9092). Once you factor in Cedar Rapids's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.0), that paycheck buys what $54,843 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.8% above the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the projected median annual salary for medical assistants is $48,790 in 2026, reflecting a competitive edge over the national median of $47,961. This figure encompasses a salary range that spans from $39,647 at the 10th percentile to $61,187 at the 90th percentile, providing insight into the various pay scales available in the region. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, these figures highlight the substantial contribution of specialty practices, such as dermatology and orthopedics, which often outpace primary care salaries by 20-40%. As Cedar Rapids continues to develop as a healthcare hub, the demand for skilled medical assistants remains robust, creating a favorable landscape for job seekers in this field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,647 | $19.06 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $42,712 | $20.53 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $48,790 | $23.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $50,428 | $24.25 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $61,187 | $29.41 |
Median Salary Position
1.73% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cedar Rapids
In Cedar Rapids, IA, the medical assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $21,540 (2026 est.). At $48,790, the local median is 1.73% above the national median of $47,961.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cedar Rapids: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cedar Rapids Medical Assistant Pay Compares
Cedar Rapids median: $48,790/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cedar Rapids Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $47,927 | +1.80% more |
| National Average | $47,961 | +1.73% more |
Medical Assistants in Cedar Rapids, IA earn a median of $48,790 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.73% higher than the national median of $47,961 and 1.80% above the Iowa state average of $47,927.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cedar Rapids has a cost of living 11.04% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA has a cost-of-living index of 88.963 (below the national average of 100). A medical assistant earning $48,790 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $54,843 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.41% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$37,340
2025 BLS Actual
$46,480
2026 Current Est.
$48,790
2019–2027 Growth
+37.2%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Cedar Rapids (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $37,340 | Actual |
| 2020 | $37,730 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,660 | Actual |
| 2022 | $39,070 | Actual |
| 2023 | $43,520 | Actual |
| 2024 | $45,300 | Actual |
| 2025 | $46,480 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $48,790 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $51,215 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area, the median medical assistant salary grew 24.5% from $37,340 (2019) to $46,480 (2025). At a 4.97% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $51,215 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,875 (37.16%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cedar Rapids 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) | $39,647 – $42,712 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $42,712 – $48,790 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $48,790 – $50,428 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $50,428 – $61,187 |
MA, CMA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Assistant Job Market in Cedar Rapids
A total of 510 medical assistants are currently employed in the Cedar Rapids area, underpinning a healthy job market for these professionals. The cost of living index here is 88.963, which is below the national average, meaning that salaries may stretch further in terms of purchasing power. Among Cedar Rapids's employers, specialty practices and larger urgent care chains, such as CityMD and MedExpress, typically offer the highest pay. The differences in pay can often be attributed to factors like specialty focus, bilingual skills, certification in areas such as phlebotomy or EKG, and experience in high-demand roles. For those seeking to maximize their earnings, pursuing additional certifications through recognized bodies like AAMA or NCCT and targeting employment in specialty clinics are effective strategies to enhance medical assistant pay in Cedar Rapids, IA.
More salary data for Cedar Rapids, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical assistants make in Cedar Rapids, IA in 2026?
Is Cedar Rapids, IA a good place to work as a medical assistant?
Can medical assistants make $100K in Cedar Rapids?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted medical assistant salary in Cedar Rapids?
How much does a medical assistant make per hour in Cedar Rapids?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
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 $46,480 for medical assistantsin the Cedar Rapids 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