CA · Petaluma · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Petaluma, CA

The median medical assistant pay in the Petaluma area is $30.24 per hour ($62,900 a year), with the typical range running from $23.38 to $36.33. That ranks 2nd of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 3rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Petaluma. The free report below lists employers near Petaluma and what they pay.

Medical Assistant pay in Petaluma, CA

The metro median is 31% above the California statewide median of $23.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,710 medical assistants employed in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma metro area, 8.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.62).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$21.02$43,7201% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$23.38$48,63010% above U.S. median
Median$30.24$62,90042% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$36.33$75,57071% above U.S. median
Top 10%$38.10$79,25079% above U.S. median

How Petaluma ranks

  • 2nd of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 3rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd 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 Petaluma

  • Overall prices in Santa Rosa-Petaluma run 8% above the U.S. average (index 107.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 40% above the U.S. average (index 139.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $30.24 median hour buys what $28.06 buys at the national price level, 32% 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.

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

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Estimate your Petaluma paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,089
  • Per year: $54,432
  • Per month: $4,536

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

Travel assignment per diem in Petaluma

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$157
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,701
13-week assignment$22,113

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).

Open Medical Assistant roles in California

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Petaluma as they open.

PermanentPosted today

Medical Assistant

CommonSpirit Health · San Luis Obispo, CA

$26.06–$36.81/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 102040244512
Top 25% payNew this week
View role
PermanentPosted today

Medical Assistant

Kaweah Delta Health Care District · Visalia, CA

$23.84–$35.76/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req R26_0000002410
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted today

Medical Assistant

CommonSpirit Health · Redding, CA

$25.00–$27.38/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101661436976
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted yesterday

Medical Assistant

CommonSpirit Health · Cameron Park, CA

$26.06–$36.81/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101622472096
Top 25% payNew this week
View role

All Medical Assistant jobs in California

Hospitals in Petaluma

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Petaluma Valley Hospital
Petaluma, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5No

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

Primary care shortage areas in Sonoma County

HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Sonoma County (7 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Novato, CA12 mi$28.80/hr52,311
Santa Rosa, CA15 mi$30.24/hr177,524
Napa, CA18 mi$28.01/hr76,921
San Rafael, CA19 mi$28.80/hr59,961
Vallejo, CA22 mi$36.15/hr123,475
Richmond, CA25 mi$28.80/hr115,353

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 Petaluma

Petaluma city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Petaluma, CA?

Medical Assistants in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma metro area have a median pay of $30.24 per hour, about $62,900 a year. The middle half earn between $23.38 and $36.33 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Santa Rosa-Petaluma ranks 3rd of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 2nd of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% above the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in Petaluma?

CMS lists 1 hospital in Petaluma, led by Petaluma Valley Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

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

HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Sonoma 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 Petaluma?

The federal per diem benchmark in Petaluma is $157 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,701 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Petaluma?

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

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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

Your Medical Assistant pay reportPetaluma, 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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