Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Endoscopy Tech / Medical Assistant - Gastroenterology - SRS - 8 Hour Day Shift - Per Diem
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$29.67–$37.10/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Medical Assistant jobs in El Cajon, CA
Pay for medical assistants in the El Cajon area centers on $22.97 per hour, or about $47,780 a year. The lower quarter earns under $21.57 and the upper quarter over $27.76. The CMS hospital directory lists 18 hospitals in the El Cajon metro area. That ranks 41st of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 183rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near El Cajon.
- $22.97median pay per hour, San Diego
- $22–$28typical range per hour
- 8,590medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 16open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Medical Assistant roles near El Cajon
Roles in other cities of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Endoscopy Tech / Medical Assistant - Gastroenterology - SRS - Variable Shift - Per Diem
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$29.67–$37.10/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
120+ more Medical Assistant roles for you in El Cajon, CA
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Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - Sharp Rees-Stealy Ob/Gyn Float Pool - Per Diem - Variable Shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$28.73–$34.47/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - SRS Float Pool - Per Diem - Day Shift - Intra-Unit/Dept Only
Sharp HealthCare · La Mesa, CA
$28.73–$34.47/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - SRS - Nursing Float Pool - Per Diem - Days
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$28.73–$34.47/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - SRS Primary Care Nursing Float Pool - Per Diem - Day Shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$28.73–$34.47/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - SRS Primary Care Nursing Float Pool - Scripps Ranch - Per Diem - Day Shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$28.73–$34.47/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - Mary Birch Maternal Fetal Medicine - Per Diem - Day Shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$28.73–$34.47/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - Dermatology - SRS Sorrento Mesa - Full-Time - Day Shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$26.12–$31.34/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - SRS Primary Care Float Pool - East County & South Bay - Full-Time - Variable Shift
Sharp HealthCare · La Mesa, CA
$26.12–$31.34/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - Sharp Cardiovascular and Thoracic Center - Full Time - Day Shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$26.12–$31.34/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Clinical - Medical Assistant I (CMA) - Pulmonology
Rady Children's Hospital · San Diego, CA
$23.10–$31.77/ hour
Get the El Cajon Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near El Cajon, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring medical assistants near El Cajon
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp HealthCare | 11 | $31.60 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 3 | $31.60 |
| Rady Children's Hospital | 2 | $27.44 |
Medical Assistant pay in El Cajon, CA
The metro median is 1% below the California statewide median of $23.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 8,590 medical assistants employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 5.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.09).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.65 | $38,790 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $21.57 | $44,870 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Median | $22.97 | $47,780 | 8% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $27.76 | $57,740 | 31% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $30.61 | $63,670 | 44% above U.S. median |
How El Cajon ranks
- 41st of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 183rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 12th 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 El Cajon
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $22.97 median hour buys what $20.53 buys at the national price level, 3% below 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 El Cajon paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$827
- Per year: $41,346
- Per month: $3,446
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in El Cajon
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
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. 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 the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area
CMS lists 18 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, 10 of the 13 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Va San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas Encinitas, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr Coronado, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in San Diego County
HRSA lists 25 active primary care shortage designations that include San Diego County (4 population-group, 21 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santee, CA | 4 mi | $22.97/hr | 59,104 |
| La Mesa, CA | 4 mi | $22.97/hr | 60,767 |
| Temecula, CA | 49 mi | $20.54/hr | 112,431 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in El Cajon
El Cajon city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in El Cajon, CA?
Medical Assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $22.97 per hour, about $47,780 a year. The middle half earn between $21.57 and $27.76 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is El Cajon a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 183rd of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 41st of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring medical assistants in El Cajon?
We list 16 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near El Cajon.
Do I need a California license to work in El Cajon 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 El Cajon in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 25 active primary care shortage designations that include San Diego 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 El Cajon?
The federal per diem benchmark in El Cajon is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in El Cajon?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in El Cajon and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near El Cajon.
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What do employers near El Cajon pay medical assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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510+ Medical Assistant roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Medical Assistant pay reportEl Cajon, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- 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
- CommonSpirit HealthSan Luis Obispo, CA · 19 postings$31.44/ hr$25–$43
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
- Medical AssistantPermanent$26.06–$36.81/ hour
- Medical AssistantPermanent$23.84–$35.76/ hour
+ 84 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.