PermanentPosted 20 days ago
Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Santa Maria, CA
$26.06–$36.81/ hour
Top 25% pay
Medical Assistant jobs in Santa Barbara, CA
Medical Assistants in the Santa Barbara area earn a median of $23.90 per hour, about $49,710 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $22.19 and $28.49. That ranks 17th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 96th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Santa Barbara and its metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Santa Barbara.
- $23.90median pay per hour, Santa Maria
- $22–$28typical range per hour
- 1,390medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Medical Assistant roles near Santa Barbara
Roles in other cities of the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area.
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130+ more Medical Assistant roles for you in Santa Barbara, CA
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More open Medical Assistant roles in Santa Barbara
8 more open roles from employers in Santa Barbara. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Medical Assistant II, Urology
Sutter Health · Santa Barbara, CA
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Medical Assistant II, Orthopedics
Sutter Health · Santa Barbara, CA
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Medical Assistant II, Oncology
Sutter Health · Santa Barbara, CA
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Medical Assistant II, Rheumatology, Part-Time
Sutter Health · Santa Barbara, CA
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 20 days ago
Clinical Concierge (Medical Assistant/X-ray Technician)
Cottage Health System · Santa Barbara, CA
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Clinical Concierge, Medical Assistant
Cottage Health System · Santa Barbara, CA
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 22 days ago
Medical Assistant II, Cardiology
Sutter Health · Santa Barbara, CA
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 28 days ago
Clinical Concierge (LVN-Cert Medical Assistant) - Float
Cottage Health System · Santa Barbara, CA
Pay range with your report
Get the Santa Barbara Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Santa Barbara, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportMedical Assistant pay in Santa Barbara, CA
The metro median is 3% above the California statewide median of $23.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,390 medical assistants employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 6.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.34).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $19.03 | $39,580 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $22.19 | $46,160 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Median | $23.90 | $49,710 | 12% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $28.49 | $59,260 | 34% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $29.48 | $61,320 | 39% above U.S. median |
How Santa Barbara ranks
- 17th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 96th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 7th 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 Santa Barbara
- Overall prices in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $23.90 median hour buys what $21.97 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 Santa Barbara paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$860
- Per year: $43,020
- Per month: $3,585
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Barbara
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $214 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,142 |
| 13-week assignment | $27,846 |
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 Santa Barbara
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Barbara, CA | Psychiatric | Government and federal | 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 Santa Barbara County
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara County (1 population-group, 8 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Buenaventura, CA | 28 mi | $23.24/hr | 109,831 |
| Oxnard, CA | 32 mi | $23.24/hr | 200,616 |
| Camarillo, CA | 41 mi | $23.24/hr | 69,881 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 50 mi | $23.24/hr | 124,229 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 55 mi | $23.90/hr | 111,346 |
| Simi Valley, CA | 56 mi | $23.24/hr | 125,778 |
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 Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Santa Barbara, CA?
Medical Assistants in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $23.90 per hour, about $49,710 a year. The middle half earn between $22.19 and $28.49 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Barbara a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 96th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 17th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring medical assistants in Santa Barbara?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santa Barbara.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Barbara is $214 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,142 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Santa Barbara?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Barbara and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Barbara.
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What do employers near Santa Barbara 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
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Medical Assistant pay reportSanta Barbara, 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.