Medical Assistant.
Los Angeles.
$51,000
median salary, 16% above the national average
$44,000 to $56,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Medical Assistant pay in Los Angeles at $51,000, within a range of $44,000 to $56,000. That is 16% above the national average. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Medical Assistant in Los Angeles, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $47,760 for Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092) in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, based on 39,770 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$39,160
25th percentile
$45,830
Median
$47,760
75th percentile
$59,610
90th percentile
$73,940
Workers surveyed
39,770
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092) rather than Medical Assistant specifically. The Los Angelesrange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 31-9092Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $46,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$33,000
to $41,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$43,000
to $54,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$56,000
to $66,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$64,000
to $79,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $11,000 to the total package.
Base
$51,000
Equity
$6,000
Bonus
$4,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $62,000
How Los Angeles compares.
Los Angeles, CA
$51,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$44,000
Los Angeles is $7,000 above
Medical Assistant salary by city.
Salary by role in Los Angeles.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Medical Assistant roles in Los Angeles, here is what you are walking into. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area. Certification status is the largest pay differentiator, with CMA and RMA credentials adding 10 to 15% over uncertified MAs. Specialty practices like dermatology, orthopedics, and cardiology pay more than general primary care. Urban areas and hospital-owned practices consistently offer higher wages than rural independent clinics.
Entry-level MAs start at $30,000 to $34,000 without certification. Certified MAs with three to five years of experience earn $38,000 to $44,000. Lead MAs or clinical supervisors overseeing support staff can reach $46,000 to $55,000 in larger practices or health systems. In Los Angeles, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Medical assistants typically receive health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plan access. Some employers offer tuition assistance for nursing or allied health programs, which adds long-term value beyond the base salary. And on the tax side: california's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states. When someone quotes you $51,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers. The range for Medical Assistants in Los Angeles runs from $44,000 to $56,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Medical Assistant salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Los Angeles.
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