Medical Assistant.
San Jose.
$62,000
median salary, 41% above the national average
$53,000 to $68,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Medical Assistant pay in San Jose ranges from $53,000 to $68,000 in 2026. The median is $62,000, 41% above the national average. San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley, home to Apple, Google, Adobe, and Cisco. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. 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 San Jose, 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 $61,940 for Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092) in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metropolitan area, based on 6,400 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$49,370
25th percentile
$51,390
Median
$61,940
75th percentile
$78,120
90th percentile
$79,620
Workers surveyed
6,400
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 San Joserange 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 $56,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$40,000
to $50,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$53,000
to $65,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$68,000
to $81,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$78,000
to $96,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $13,000 to the total package.
Base
$62,000
Equity
$7,000
Bonus
$5,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $75,000
How San Jose compares.
San Jose, CA
$62,000
Cost of living: 38% above average
National Average
$44,000
San Jose is $18,000 above
Medical Assistant salary by city.
Salary by role in San Jose.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Medical Assistant roles in San Jose, here is what you are walking into. San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley, home to Apple, Google, Adobe, and Cisco. The city consistently ranks among the highest paying metros in the country for technology roles. Competition for talent is fierce, with employers offering aggressive compensation packages including equity, signing bonuses, and premium benefits to attract and retain engineers. 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 San Jose, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 38% 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 top 13.3% state rate applies fully here. While gross salaries in San Jose are among the nation's highest, the tax burden means net pay may not stretch as far as expected. When someone quotes you $62,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Always negotiate equity alongside base salary. San Jose employers expect candidates to evaluate total compensation including RSUs, and leaving equity on the table is leaving money behind. The range for Medical Assistants in San Jose runs from $53,000 to $68,000. 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
Considering a related role?
- A Customer Service Representative in San Jose earns $61,000 (2% less)
- The highest-paying role in San Jose is CTO at $402,000
Common questions.
Medical Assistant salary in other cities.
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