California medical assistant pay by percentile
California medical assistants at the median earn $49,660, and the middle half earn $46,240 to $61,870.[onet_ma] California is #6 among the 50 states and DC for medical assistant pay, but its range is wider than most: the 90th percentile reaches $77,300, against $59,310 nationally. The bottom of the range is much closer to the national figure ($39,290 against $36,050), so a California offer in the low $40,000s is still ordinary for a first job.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,290 | $18.89 | $33,750 |
| 25th | $46,240 | $22.23 | $39,334 |
| Median (50th) | $49,660 | $23.88 | $42,082 |
| 75th | $61,870 | $29.75 | $51,893 |
| 90th | $77,300 | $37.16 | $63,211 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare; before state tax.
Medical assistant hourly pay in California
Medical assistant hourly pay in California is $23.88 at the median, $18.89 at the 10th percentile and $37.16 at the 90th.[onet_ma] These are BLS annual figures divided by 2,080 hours.[oews_faq] Overtime pay is not in the BLS figure, so clinics that run long days can pay more than the straight-time numbers here.
Medical assistant salary by California metro area
Vallejo, CA pays medical assistants the most in California, at a $77,410 median; the big coastal markets sit lower, with Los Angeles at $47,760, San Diego at $49,420 and San Francisco-Oakland at $59,790.[onet_ma] In the Central Valley, Fresno's median is $46,500. The full list covers all 28 areas BLS publishes for the state.
| Area | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $77,410 | $37.22 | $47,150 | $77,800 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $64,820 | $31.16 | $46,770 | $79,890 |
| Napa, CA | $62,050 | $29.83 | $45,890 | $79,730 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $61,970 | $29.79 | $45,330 | $78,090 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $61,940 | $29.78 | $49,370 | $79,620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,790 | $28.75 | $47,070 | $79,750 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,680 | $24.37 | $43,210 | $67,570 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $50,090 | $24.08 | $40,690 | $75,140 |
| Modesto, CA | $49,990 | $24.03 | $38,830 | $78,080 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $49,520 | $23.81 | $38,940 | $72,730 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $49,510 | $23.80 | $38,950 | $59,140 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $49,500 | $23.80 | $39,820 | $63,270 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,420 | $23.76 | $43,340 | $66,340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $49,410 | $23.75 | $37,830 | $61,870 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $49,210 | $23.66 | $43,080 | $62,910 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $49,190 | $23.65 | $39,460 | $61,130 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,890 | $23.50 | $40,730 | $59,550 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $48,880 | $23.50 | $39,450 | $62,140 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,840 | $23.00 | $36,460 | $78,150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,760 | $22.96 | $39,160 | $73,940 |
| Chico, CA | $47,150 | $22.67 | $39,050 | $58,450 |
| Visalia, CA | $47,140 | $22.66 | $36,720 | $56,260 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,700 | $22.45 | $38,540 | $62,360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,560 | $22.38 | $36,440 | $60,370 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,500 | $22.36 | $37,300 | $70,660 |
| Redding, CA | $46,210 | $22.22 | $37,910 | $55,990 |
| El Centro, CA | $45,290 | $21.77 | $37,320 | $57,740 |
| Merced, CA | $39,800 | $19.13 | $35,600 | $50,510 |
In Los Angeles, the 25th percentile is $45,830, a reasonable first-job benchmark there. Use the calculator's metro list and your own tax rate to compare a Los Angeles offer with one from the Bay Area or Sacramento.
California vs neighboring states
California's $49,660 median is below Washington's but above the rest of the West: Washington $59,290, Oregon $50,410, Nevada $45,200, Arizona $45,940, Texas $39,520.[onet_ma] Texas and Nevada have no state income tax on wages, which narrows the take-home gap; Texas metros are compared on medical assistant salary in Texas. The national ranking is on medical assistant salary.
Medical assistant requirements in California
California does not license medical assistants. The Medical Board of California describes them as unlicensed staff who perform non-invasive routine technical support services under on-site supervision of a licensed provider, as set out in Business and Professions Code sections 2069–2071.[mbc_ma] The state does set minimum training before a medical assistant may give injections or draw blood:[mbc_faq]
| Task | Minimum training |
|---|---|
| Injections and skin tests | 10 clock hours, including at least 10 of each type of injection and 10 skin tests |
| Venipuncture and skin puncture (drawing blood) | 10 clock hours, including at least 10 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures |
| Inhalation medication | 10 clock hours |
Certification is voluntary in California, but the Medical Board lists the certifying organizations it approves: AAMA, AMCA, AMT, CCBMA and MMCI. NHA, which offers the CCMA exam, is not on that list, so check which credential a California employer wants before you pay for an exam.[mbc_ma]
The national certification exams and their fees are compared on medical assistant certification, and the training route is on how to become a medical assistant.
Frequently asked questions
How much do medical assistants make in California?
$49,660 a year at the California median (BLS, May 2025), or $23.88 an hour.
What is the medical assistant salary in Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim median is $47,760 ($22.96 an hour).
Where do medical assistants make the most in California?
Vallejo, CA ($77,410 median), then Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA and Napa, CA.
What is the medical assistant salary in San Diego?
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad median is $49,420, or $23.76 an hour.
Sources
- Local Wages: 31-9092.00 Medical Assistants (state and metro percentiles)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates
- OEWS Frequently Asked Questions (wage definition; 2,080-hour year)
- Medical Assistants (scope, supervision and approved certifying organizations)
- Medical Assistants FAQs (training requirements, 16 CCR 1366.1)