CA · Chico · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Chico, CA

The median medical assistant pay in the Chico area is $22.11 per hour ($46,000 a year), with the typical range running from $21.00 to $24.55. 5 open roles with published pay are listed for Chico. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Chico. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Chico.

Open Medical Assistant roles in Chico

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Medical Assistant pay in Chico, CA

The metro median is 4% below the California statewide median of $23.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 610 medical assistants employed in the Chico metro area, 7.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.51).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.22$37,90014% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$21.00$43,6801% below U.S. median
Median$22.11$46,0004% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$24.55$51,06016% above U.S. median
Top 10%$28.18$58,61033% above U.S. median

How Chico ranks

  • 78th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 102nd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 16th of 24 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Chico

  • Overall prices in Chico run 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $22.11 median hour buys what $21.85 buys at the national price level, 3% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Chico paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$796
  • Per year: $39,798
  • Per month: $3,316

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chico metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Chico

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

Travel medical assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Chico

CMS lists 1 hospital in Chico, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Enloe Health
Chico, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Butte County

HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Butte County (3 geographic, 6 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 17 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Medical Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Yuba City, CA44 mi$22.89/hr69,148
Redding, CA63 mi$21.82/hr93,502
Lincoln, CA67 mi$30.08/hr56,268
Rocklin, CA72 mi$30.08/hr75,129
Roseville, CA73 mi$30.08/hr163,304
Woodland, CA75 mi$30.08/hr62,983

Medical Assistant jobs in California · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Chico

Chico city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Chico, CA?

Medical Assistants in the Chico metro area have a median pay of $22.11 per hour, about $46,000 a year. The middle half earn between $21.00 and $24.55 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Chico a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?

Chico ranks 102nd of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 78th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring medical assistants in Chico?

We list 5 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Chico. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Chico.

Do I need a California license to work in Chico as a medical assistant?

Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Chico in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Butte County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Chico?

The federal per diem benchmark in Chico is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Chico?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chico and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chico.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Medical Assistant near Chico, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Medical Assistant pay reportChico, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Enloe Medical CenterChico, CA · 5 postings$28.20/ hr$24–$33
  • Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenSacramento, CA · 2 postings$33.62/ hr$28–$39
  • Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 11 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$37
  • Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 4 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$34

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$24Median$29.61High$36

86 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in California, 80 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 86 Medical Assistant roles

  1. Medical AssistantPermanent
    $26.06–$36.81/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · San Luis Obispo, CA · posted today
  2. Medical AssistantPermanent
    $23.84–$35.76/ hour
    Kaweah Delta Health Care District · Visalia, CA · posted today

+ 84 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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