Salaries › Medical Assistant › California
Medical Assistant Salary in California (2026)
$23.88 per hour · take-home ≈ $40,900/year ($3,408/month) for a single filer
Medical Assistant pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $39,290 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,240 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $49,660 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $61,870 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $77,300 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 117,060 Medical Assistant jobs in California (occupation code 31-9092, “Medical Assistants”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Medical Assistant salary of $49,660 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $40,900 — an effective tax rate of 17.6%.
| Gross (median) | $49,660 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,779 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,799 |
| California state income tax | −$1,182 |
| Take-home (annual) | $40,900 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,408 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in California?
- The median Medical Assistant salary in California is $49,660 per year ($23.88 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,240 and $61,870.
- What is the take-home pay for a Medical Assistant in California?
- On the median salary of $49,660, a single filer in California takes home about $40,900 per year ($3,408 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.6%.
- How many Medical Assistant jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 117,060 Medical Assistant jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Medical Assistants
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.