Medical Assistant Wage Comparison

Medical Assistant Pay

U.S. minimum hourly wages are set by the federal government, but states can set higher wage requirements. The employer then decides how much they will offer above this rate to keep their wages more competitive and attractive.

Fact is:

• non-certified medical assistants earn around $26,000 annual
• most MAs max their wages at $14 per hour
• certified medical assistants earn more  

Median Salary by Job - Certification: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) (United States)

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Minimum Wage Comparison

The chart below shows the minimum wage in each state. You will notice that most states have set theirs at $7.25. So, when a medical assistant makes $10 per hour, they are just a little bit over the minimum wage. A medical assistant making $15 gets twice the minimum wage, which is pretty good, especially if they also receive employee benefits.

Source:
U.S. Department of Labor effective July 24, 2009.

STATE	MINIMUM WAGE
Alabama	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Alaska	$7.25
Arizona	$7.25
Arkansas	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
California	$8.00
Colorado	$7.28
Connecticut	$7.65
Delaware	$7.25 *(was $7.15)
District of Columbia	$7.55
Florida	$7.25 *(was $7.21)
Georgia	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Hawaii	$7.25
Idaho	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Illinois	$8.00 *(was $7.75)
Indiana	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Iowa	$7.25
Kansas	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Kentucky	$7.25
Louisiana	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Maine	$7.25
Maryland	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Massachusetts	$8.00
Michigan	$7.40
Minnesota	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Mississippi	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Missouri	$7.25 *(was $7.05)
Montana	$7.25 *(was $6.90
Nebraska	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Nevada	$7.25 *(was $6.85)
New Hampshire	$7.25
New Jersey	$7.25 (was $7.15)
New Mexico	$7.50
New York	$7.25 *(was $7.15)
North Carolina	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
North Dakota	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Ohio	$7.30 *(was $6.55)
Oklahoma	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Oregon	$8.40
Pennsylvania	$7.25 *(was $7.15)
Puerto Rico	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Rhode Island	$7.40
South Carolina	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
South Dakota	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Tennessee	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Texas	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Utah	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Vermont	$8.06
Virginia	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Washington	$8.55
West Virginia	$7.25
Wisconsin	$7.25 *(was $6.55)
Wyoming	$7.25 *(was $6.55)