Certified Medical Assistant Salary 2026: Pay by State and Setting
CMA pay: BLS reports a $45,690 national median for medical assistants (May 2025). State and specialty practice drive most variation. Plus what boosts CMA salary fastest in the first 5 years.
Medical assistants (the BLS group that includes CMA-credentialed medical assistants) earned a national median of $45,690 per year ($21.97/hour) in May 2025 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with about $36,050 at the 10th percentile and $59,310 at the 90th. CMA pay is functionally identical to CCMA pay — the credential issuer (AAMA vs. NHA) doesn’t move the wage; state, setting, experience, and stacked certifications do.
This post breaks down current CMA salary by state, by setting, by experience level, and by specialty — with the same kind of analysis we covered for CCMA salary, since the two credentials track together in the labor market.
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National CMA Salary (BLS, May 2025) - Certified Medical Assistant Salary
BLS reports one wage distribution for all medical assistants (code 31-9092) and does not split it by credential. May 2025:
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17.33 | $36,050 |
| 25th | $18.50 | $38,470 |
| 50th (Median) | $21.97 | $45,690 |
| 75th | $23.65 | $49,180 |
| 90th | $28.52 | $59,310 |
CMA (AAMA), CCMA (NHA) and RMA (AMT) holders are all counted in this occupation.
CMA Salary by State
Highest-paying states (BLS May 2025 median annual wage)
| State | Median Hourly | Median Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $28.50 | $59,290 |
| Alaska | $25.27 | $52,560 |
| District of Columbia | $24.54 | $51,050 |
| Minnesota | $24.27 | $50,480 |
| Oregon | $24.24 | $50,410 |
| California | $23.88 | $49,660 |
| Massachusetts | $23.78 | $49,460 |
| Wisconsin | $23.40 | $48,680 |
| Hawaii | $23.27 | $48,410 |
| Colorado | $23.27 | $48,400 |
Lower-paying states
| State | Median Hourly | Median Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $17.00 | $35,360 |
| Alabama | $17.36 | $36,100 |
| Louisiana | $17.46 | $36,320 |
| West Virginia | $17.88 | $37,180 |
| Arkansas | $18.15 | $37,760 |
Washington paid about $23,930 more per year at the median than Mississippi (about 68% more), before any cost-of-living adjustment.
CMA Salary by Setting
BLS publishes medical assistant wages by industry (offices of physicians, hospitals, outpatient care centers and others); check the current industry table in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the setting you are targeting. BLS does not report wages by clinical specialty.
Pay by Years of Experience
BLS does not publish wages by years of experience. The spread from the 10th percentile ($36,050) to the 90th percentile ($59,310) shows how much pay varies across all medical assistants; pay typically rises as you take on more responsibility, such as training newer staff and mastering the EHR.
What Boosts CMA Salary the Fastest
BLS does not report wages by skill, credential or clinical specialty. Compare the credential, lawful duties and compensation in current local job requirements.
CMA vs CCMA — Same Pay?
BLS reports one wage series for all medical assistants and does not break pay out by CMA (AAMA), CCMA (NHA) or RMA (AMT). Employers set their own requirements; check current local job postings for the credentials they accept. Choose based on which exam pathway your training program supports and which credential is most common in your target market.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a CMA make per hour?
BLS reports a national median of $21.97/hour ($45,690/year) for medical assistants in May 2025, with $17.33 at the 10th percentile and $28.52 at the 90th.
Which state pays medical assistants the most?
In BLS May 2025 data, Washington paid the highest median at $59,290; Alaska, District of Columbia, Minnesota, Oregon followed.
Do CMAs and CCMAs make the same?
BLS reports one wage distribution for all medical assistants; state, setting and experience drive more variation than which credential you hold.
Can a CMA make $50,000?
BLS May 2025: the 75th percentile was $49,180 and the 90th percentile $59,310, so $50,000 is reachable in higher-paying states and with experience.
What’s the best-paying medical assistant setting?
BLS publishes wages by industry; check the current industry table for offices of physicians, hospitals and outpatient care centers.
Is CMA worth it financially?
Compare the cost of your program with the median wage in your state.
Does AAMA CMA pay more than NHA CCMA?
BLS does not report wages by credential. Compare the credential, lawful duties and compensation in current local job requirements.
Start Your CCMA Journey with HealthCerts
Reading about it is one thing — actually getting credentialed and into a clinical role is another. HealthCerts’ Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) program is the fastest, most-supported path: Earn your NHA CCMA in 8 weeks online with NHA exam fee, externship, and a venipuncture practice kit included. 5 ACE college credits.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (31-9092 Medical Assistants); NHA 2025 Industry Outlook for the employer survey figure.
Shahnaz Ghassemi Ph.D., is a co-founder of HealthCareerCerts and a dedicated educator, scientist, and workforce development leader. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and brings extensive experience as both an educator and a research scientist in industry. As a co-leader of HealthCareerCerts, Shahnaz is deeply committed to making healthcare education accessible through affordable, flexible, and high-quality learning pathways. She works closely with academic institutions, healthcare partners, and workforce organizations to deliver certification programs that are practical, inclusive, and directly aligned with real-world healthcare needs. Since co-founding the organization, she has played a key role in building strategic partnerships that expand impact and opportunity, helping learners across the country gain essential skills, confidence, and meaningful careers in healthcare. Seeing hundreds of students thrive within the supportive learning community she helps lead continues to inspire and drive her mission forward.
