Medical assistant salary in California after taxes
The median medical assistant in California earns $49,660 a year ($23.88 an hour). After 2026 taxes, that's about $40,315 a year, or $1,550.58 every two weeks.
Take-home pay at each pay level
| Pay level | Gross / year | Take-home / year | Per month | Every 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,290 | $32,629 | $2,719 | $1,254.96 |
| 25th percentile | $46,240 | $37,817 | $3,151 | $1,454.51 |
| Median | $49,660 | $40,315 | $3,360 | $1,550.58 |
| 75th percentile | $61,870 | $49,161 | $4,097 | $1,890.82 |
| 90th percentile | $77,300 | $58,951 | $4,913 | $2,267.35 |
The 10th percentile means 10% of medical assistants in California earn less than this. New hires usually start near the 10th–25th percentile.
Your exact paycheck
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Medical assistant take-home pay in other states
California ranks #4 of 20 of the states we cover for median medical assistant take-home pay.
| State | Median gross | Take-home / year |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,290 | $48,997 |
| Alaska | $52,560 | $44,412 |
| New Hampshire | $48,020 | $40,764 |
| California | $49,660 | $40,315 |
| Massachusetts | $49,460 | $39,541 |
| New Jersey | $47,210 | $38,551 |
| Nevada | $45,200 | $38,498 |
| New York | $48,000 | $38,482 |
| Florida | $43,680 | $37,277 |
| North Carolina | $45,140 | $37,124 |
| Illinois | $46,090 | $37,077 |
| Virginia | $44,740 | $36,371 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,920 | $36,121 |
| South Dakota | $41,870 | $35,823 |
| Ohio | $42,810 | $35,679 |
| Wyoming | $40,920 | $35,059 |
| Georgia | $41,600 | $34,278 |
| Tennessee | $39,570 | $33,974 |
| Texas | $39,520 | $33,934 |
| Michigan | $39,870 | $32,772 |
Questions
How much does a medical assistant make in California after taxes?
The median medical assistant in California earns $49,660 a year ($23.88 an hour) before tax, according to BLS data for May 2025. After 2026 federal and state taxes that's about $40,315 a year, $3,360 a month or $1,550.58 every two weeks for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions.
How many medical assistants work in California?
About 117,060, according to the BLS May 2025 estimates.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, statewide, all industries. BLS wages include tips and commissions, not overtime premiums or benefits. Take-home uses 2026 tax rules for a single filer paid every two weeks with W-4 defaults and no pre-tax deductions.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state data)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A and Annual Percentage Method tables
- SSA: 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500)
- California EDD, 2026 Withholding Schedules, Method B (exact calculation)
- California EDD: SDI withholding rate (1.3% in 2026, no wage cap)
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