Medical Assistants
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$44,200
~$21/hr · ~$3,683/mo
US Jobs
811K
Much faster than average
AI & Automation Risk
4/10
Low Risk
AI & Automation Risk
Low Risk 4/10
Medical assistants perform a hybrid of physical and digital tasks; while AI can significantly automate administrative duties like scheduling, coding, and medical record entry, it cannot perform physical clinical tasks such as drawing blood, administering injections, or taking manual vital signs. The role requires a high degree of real-time human interaction and empathy in a physical clinical setting, which serves as a natural barrier to full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CABEST VALUE | $75,180 | Above avg (109.4) | $68,746 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,570 | Above avg (109.1) | $57,356 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62,900 | Above avg (110.3) | $57,051 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,290 | Above avg (113.1) | $55,095 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $49,720 | Below avg (90.6) | $54,884 |
| Mankato, MN | $46,900 | Below avg (87.6) | $53,510 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $53,140 | Average (99.3) | $53,509 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $46,450 | Below avg (87.2) | $53,280 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $48,000 | Below avg (90.9) | $52,808 |
| Rochester, MN | $48,980 | Below avg (93.0) | $52,690 |
| Topeka, KS | $45,040 | Below avg (85.8) | $52,470 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $46,740 | Below avg (89.3) | $52,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,850 | Above avg (112.7) | $52,204 |
| Napa, CA | $58,270 | Above avg (111.8) | $52,108 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $47,520 | Below avg (91.5) | $51,919 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
10-Year Growth
+12% (Much faster than average)
Hourly Rate
~$21/hr
Monthly Income
~$3,683/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)