Medical Assistants pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,340 or more. The middle half of medical assistants in San Diego earn between $47,690 and $60,480.
- $43K10th
- $48K25th
- $49KMedian
- $60K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,430 | $4,452 | $25.69 |
| Median | $49,420 | $4,118 | $23.76 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,690 | $3,974 | $22.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,480 | $5,040 | $29.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Medical Assistants pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Medical assistants in San Diego earn 3% less than the California average ($55,100) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($46,120). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $45,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $53,430 | $49,420 | $43,340 | $66,340 | 9,370 |
| California | $55,100 | $49,660 | $39,290 | $77,300 | 117,060 |
| United States | $46,120 | $45,690 | $36,050 | $59,310 | 817,870 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Medical Assistants salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $53,430, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $43,713 a year, or $3,643 a month and $1,681 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for medical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $53,430 buys what about $47,754 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 17.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Medical Assistants salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 11th of 25 California metro areas for this job; Vallejo pays the most ($66,730).
- Vallejo$66,730
- San Jose$65,360
- Santa Rosa$64,160
- San Francisco$63,330
- Napa$62,580
- Sacramento$61,940
- Modesto$55,580
- Santa Cruz$55,090
- Stockton$54,570
- San Diego$53,430
Highest-paying cities for medical assistants
Vallejo, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($66,730).
- Vallejo, CA$66,730
- San Jose, CA$65,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$64,160
- San Francisco, CA$63,330
- Napa, CA$62,580
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Medical Assistants salary in San Diego: questions
How much do medical assistants make an hour in San Diego?
$25.69 an hour on average, and $23.76 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level medical assistants salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the medical assistants take-home pay in San Diego?
About $43,713 a year ($3,643 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,430. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do medical assistants earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($46,120).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-9092; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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