PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Medical Assistant (MA)
Premise Health · Modesto, CA
$21.60–$27.00/ hour
Medical Assistant jobs in Modesto, CA
Pay for medical assistants in the Modesto area centers on $23.33 per hour, or about $48,530 a year. The lower quarter earns under $21.31 and the upper quarter over $31.40. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Modesto. That ranks 28th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 73rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Modesto and what they pay.
- $23.33median pay per hour, Modesto
- $21–$31typical range per hour
- 1,640medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
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More open Medical Assistant roles in Modesto
1 more open role from employers in Modesto. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant II, Weight Loss Program
Sutter Health · Modesto, CA
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Named employers near Modesto, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportMedical Assistant pay in Modesto, CA
The metro median is 1% above the California statewide median of $23.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,640 medical assistants employed in the Modesto metro area, 8.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.64).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.12 | $37,690 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $21.31 | $44,320 | in line with U.S. median |
| Median | $23.33 | $48,530 | 10% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $31.40 | $65,310 | 48% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $36.43 | $75,770 | 71% above U.S. median |
How Modesto ranks
- 28th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 73rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 9th 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 Modesto
- Overall prices in Modesto run 4% above the U.S. average (index 104.1, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 8% above the U.S. average (index 108.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $23.33 median hour buys what $22.41 buys at the national price level, 5% 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 Modesto paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$840
- Per year: $41,994
- Per month: $3,499
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Modesto metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Modesto
| Item | Federal 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 Modesto
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Modesto, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Medical Center Modesto, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Doctors Medical Center Modesto, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 1 of 5 | Yes |
| Stanislaus Surgical Hospital Modesto, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Stanislaus County
HRSA lists 5 active primary care shortage designations that include Stanislaus County (2 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turlock, CA | 12 mi | $23.33/hr | 72,888 |
| Manteca, CA | 16 mi | $22.48/hr | 94,292 |
| Tracy, CA | 25 mi | $22.48/hr | 100,136 |
| Stockton, CA | 29 mi | $22.48/hr | 324,975 |
| Merced, CA | 37 mi | $18.85/hr | 96,073 |
| Lodi, CA | 37 mi | $22.48/hr | 68,642 |
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 Modesto
Modesto city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Modesto, CA?
Medical Assistants in the Modesto metro area have a median pay of $23.33 per hour, about $48,530 a year. The middle half earn between $21.31 and $31.40 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Modesto a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Modesto ranks 73rd of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 28th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring medical assistants in Modesto?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Modesto. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Modesto.
Do I need a California license to work in Modesto 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 Modesto in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 5 active primary care shortage designations that include Stanislaus 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 Modesto?
The federal per diem benchmark in Modesto 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 Modesto?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Modesto and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Modesto.
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What do employers near Modesto 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
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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 reportModesto, 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.