Best paying cities for medical assistants, after cost of living
After cost of living, medical assistant pay goes furthest in Sacramento (worth $58,079) and least far in Detroit (worth $39,292).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $61,970 | 106.7 | $58,079 | +27% |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $61,940 | 110.4 | $56,105 | +23% |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $61,500 | 111.1 | $55,356 | +21% |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $56,240 | 105.4 | $53,359 | +17% |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $59,790 | 115.6 | $51,721 | +13% |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,570 | 104.8 | $50,162 | +10% |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $46,520 | 97.3 | $47,811 | +5% |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $44,710 | 95.1 | $47,014 | +3% |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $49,700 | 105.8 | $46,975 | +3% |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $50,740 | 108.3 | $46,851 | +3% |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $45,820 | 98.1 | $46,707 | +2% |
| 12 | Nashville, TN | $44,620 | 96.3 | $46,334 | +1% |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $46,060 | 100.1 | $46,014 | +1% |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $47,270 | 103.6 | $45,627 | 0% |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $46,830 | 103.3 | $45,334 | −1% |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | $42,840 | 94.7 | $45,238 | −1% |
| 17 | Baltimore, MD | $46,790 | 104.5 | $44,775 | −2% |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,890 | 102.6 | $44,727 | −2% |
| 19 | San Diego, CA | $49,420 | 111.9 | $44,164 | −3% |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $44,220 | 100.2 | $44,132 | −3% |
| 21 | Tampa, FL | $44,480 | 100.9 | $44,083 | −4% |
| 22 | Orlando, FL | $43,800 | 101.4 | $43,195 | −5% |
| 23 | New York, NY | $48,370 | 112.6 | $42,957 | −6% |
| 24 | Washington, DC | $46,640 | 108.9 | $42,828 | −6% |
| 25 | Houston, TX | $42,110 | 98.6 | $42,708 | −7% |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $47,760 | 113.6 | $42,042 | −8% |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $43,100 | 103.1 | $41,804 | −9% |
| 28 | San Antonio, TX | $39,180 | 94.7 | $41,373 | −9% |
| 29 | Miami, FL | $44,930 | 114.2 | $39,343 | −14% |
| 30 | Detroit, MI | $39,410 | 100.3 | $39,292 | −14% |
U.S. median for medical assistants: $45,690. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Medical Assistants, SOC 31-9092); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.