CA · Highland · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Highland, CA

Pay for medical assistants in the Highland area centers on $20.54 per hour, or about $42,720 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.57 and the upper quarter over $22.93. The CMS hospital directory lists 23 hospitals in the Highland metro area. That ranks 149th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 286th of 339 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Highland.

Open Medical Assistant roles near Highland

Roles in other cities of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area.

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Named employers near Highland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring medical assistants near Highland

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation1$23
San Antonio Regional Hospital1$27.80
Sharp Healthcare1$31.60

Medical Assistant pay in Highland, CA

The metro median is 11% below the California statewide median of $23.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 11,180 medical assistants employed in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area, 6.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.28).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.00$37,44015% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.57$38,63013% below U.S. median
Median$20.54$42,7203% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$22.93$47,6908% above U.S. median
Top 10%$29.26$60,86038% above U.S. median

How Highland ranks

  • 149th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 286th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 23rd 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 Highland

  • Overall prices in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario run 6% above the U.S. average (index 106.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 29% above the U.S. average (index 129.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $20.54 median hour buys what $19.30 buys at the national price level, 9% 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 Highland paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$739
  • Per year: $36,972
  • Per month: $3,081

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

Travel assignment per diem in Highland

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$124
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,470
13-week assignment$19,110

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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area

CMS lists 23 hospitals in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area, 4 of the 21 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Chino Valley Medical Center
Chino, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Riverside
Riverside, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital-Moreno Valley
Moreno Valley, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Temecula Valley Hospital
Temecula, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Community Hospital Of San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Corona Regional Medical Center
Corona, CA
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Desert Valley Hospital
Victorville, CA
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Fontana/Ontario
Fontana, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center
Riverside, CA
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Riverside University Health System-Medical Center
Moreno Valley, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes

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

Primary care shortage areas in San Bernardino County

HRSA lists 24 active primary care shortage designations that include San Bernardino County (4 geographic, 6 population-group, 14 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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
Redlands, CA4 mi$20.54/hr74,279
San Bernardino, CA8 mi$20.54/hr224,775

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 Highland

Highland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Highland, CA?

Medical Assistants in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area have a median pay of $20.54 per hour, about $42,720 a year. The middle half earn between $18.57 and $22.93 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario ranks 286th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 149th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring medical assistants in Highland?

We list 3 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Highland.

Do I need a California license to work in Highland 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 Highland in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 24 active primary care shortage designations that include San Bernardino 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 Highland?

The federal per diem benchmark in Highland is $124 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,470 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Highland?

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

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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

Your Medical Assistant pay reportHighland, 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

  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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