If you are considering a career as a medical assistant, salary is likely one of the first questions you have. Medical assistant pay can vary based on location, experience, employer, training, and other factors, and California offers several large healthcare employment markets.
In this guide, we look at current medical assistant salary information, Los Angeles-area wages, factors that may affect earnings, career outlook, and what prospective students should know before beginning medical assistant training.
What Do Medical Assistants Do?
Medical assistants help healthcare practices operate efficiently by supporting both patients and healthcare professionals. Depending on the workplace and applicable requirements, responsibilities may include both clinical and administrative duties.
- Recording patient histories and vital signs
- Preparing patients for examinations
- Assisting healthcare professionals during examinations
- Preparing examination rooms and equipment
- Performing certain laboratory procedures
- Updating electronic health records
- Scheduling appointments
- Managing patient information
- Supporting administrative functions within a healthcare office
How Much Do Medical Assistants Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical assistants nationwide was $45,690 in May 2025. Half of workers in the occupation earned more than this amount, and half earned less.
National figures provide useful context, but wages in California can vary by region, employer, experience, work setting, and other factors.
Medical Assistant Salary in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area includes both Los Angeles County and Orange County. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, approximately 39,770 medical assistants were employed in this metropolitan area in May 2025.
Medical assistants in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area earned an average wage of approximately $25.22 per hour, or about $52,460 per year.
These are mean wage estimates, not guaranteed starting salaries. Individual earnings may be lower or higher depending on experience, employer, schedule, responsibilities, credentials, and other factors.
What Does an Entry-Level Medical Assistant Make in California?
Entry-level medical assistant pay varies significantly, so it is better to evaluate actual job opportunities than rely on one universal starting-salary estimate.
New medical assistants may begin below the average wage reported for all workers in the occupation because those averages include professionals with varying levels of experience. Location, employer, work schedule, prior healthcare experience, training, and credentials may all affect an entry-level offer.
What Affects a Medical Assistant's Salary?
- Location: wages differ across California markets.
- Experience: more experienced workers may qualify for positions with broader responsibility.
- Employer type: hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient centers and other settings can pay differently.
- Training and skills: clinical and administrative competencies can influence employability.
- Certification and credentials: some employers may value professional credentials, though certification does not guarantee a specific salary.
Medical Assistant Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of medical assistants to grow 13% from 2025 through 2035, faster than the projected average for all occupations.
BLS also projects approximately 109,700 openings for medical assistants each year, on average, during that period. Openings may result from employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
How Do You Become a Medical Assistant in California?
There are different pathways into medical assisting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants typically need postsecondary education such as a certificate or diploma, although some workers enter the occupation with a high school diploma and receive training on the job.
Students comparing schools should consider program length, curriculum, hands-on training, externship opportunities, accreditation, schedule flexibility, financial aid options for those who qualify, and career services.
Medical Assistant Training at SOCHI
Southern California Health Institute offers a Medical Assistant Diploma program in North Hollywood designed to prepare students with clinical and administrative healthcare skills.
SOCHI’s program can be completed in about nine months and includes hybrid coursework and a 150-hour externship.
Start Exploring a Medical Assistant Career
Understanding medical assistant salary information is an important part of career planning, but compensation is only one consideration. When deciding whether medical assisting is right for you, evaluate training, skills, location, work environment, professional goals, and employment opportunities.
If you are interested in preparing for a healthcare career in the Los Angeles area, learn more about SOCHI’s Medical Assistant Diploma program in North Hollywood.
FAQ section
How much does a medical assistant make in California?
Pay varies across California. Local BLS wage data should be used to understand specific metropolitan markets.
How much do medical assistants make in Los Angeles?
BLS reported a mean wage of about $25.22 per hour and $52,460 annually in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area in May 2025.
What is the national medical assistant salary?
The national median annual wage was $45,690 in May 2025, according to BLS.
Is demand for medical assistants growing?
BLS projects 13% employment growth from 2025 to 2035.
How long is SOCHI’s Medical Assistant program?
SOCHI’s Medical Assistant Diploma program is designed to be completed in approximately nine months and includes a 150-hour externship.
