Medical Assistant Salary in Madison, WI: $51,173 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical assistant in Madison, WI earns a median $51,173/year (≈ $24.60/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9092). Once you factor in Madison's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.3), that paycheck buys what $52,600 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.1% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, medical assistants in Madison, Wisconsin, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $51,173, which reflects a competitive pay structure within the healthcare landscape. This figure is notably higher than the national median of $47,961, indicating that the job market for medical assistants in Madison offers additional value. Salaries for medical assistants in the area range from $42,513 at the lower end (P10) to $61,638 at the upper end (P90), highlighting the potential for significant earnings based on experience, specialty, and certifications. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, suggest that opportunities primarily in specialty practices such as dermatology and orthopedic offices yield superior compensation compared to conventional primary care settings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,513 | $20.44 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,871 | $23.98 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $51,173 | $24.60 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $59,707 | $28.71 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $61,638 | $29.63 |
Median Salary Position
6.70% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Madison
In Madison, WI, the medical assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $19,125 (2026 est.). At $51,173, the local median is 6.7% above the national median of $47,961.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Madison: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Madison Medical Assistant Pay Compares
Madison median: $51,173/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Madison Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $50,616 | +1.10% more |
| National Average | $47,961 | +6.70% more |
Medical Assistants in Madison, WI earn a median of $51,173 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.70% higher than the national median of $47,961 and 1.10% above the Wisconsin state average of $50,616.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Madison has a cost of living 2.71% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Madison, WI has a cost-of-living index of 97.287 (below the national average of 100). A medical assistant earning $51,173 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $52,600 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.79% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$39,040
2025 BLS Actual
$48,750
2026 Current Est.
$51,173
2019–2027 Growth
+37.6%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Madison (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $39,040 | Actual |
| 2020 | $40,130 | Actual |
| 2021 | $38,740 | Actual |
| 2022 | $44,360 | Actual |
| 2023 | $44,640 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,150 | Actual |
| 2025 | $48,750 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $51,173 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $53,716 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Madison metropolitan area, the median medical assistant salary grew 24.9% from $39,040 (2019) to $48,750 (2025). At a 4.97% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $53,716 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,676 (37.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Madison 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) | $42,513 – $49,871 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,871 – $51,173 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $51,173 – $59,707 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $59,707 – $61,638 |
MA, CMA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Assistant Job Market in Madison
Even with a solid job market featuring approximately 2,080 medical assistants employed in the area, the cost of living index in Madison stands at 97.287, slightly below the national average. This means that while salaries are competitive, the purchasing power remains influenced by local living expenses. In this marketplace, specialty practices often lead the pay scale, making roles in dermatology and orthopedics more lucrative than positions in primary care or urgent care facilities. Factors contributing to salary variations include bilingual skills, additional certifications like phlebotomy, and leadership roles. For those looking to maximize their medical assistant pay in Madison, pursuing specialized training and obtaining high-demand certifications can prove advantageous, particularly in a state where healthcare employment is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.97%.
More salary data for Madison, WI:
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 $48,750 for medical assistantsin the Madison 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