PermanentPosted 20 days ago
Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Santa Maria, CA
$26.06–$36.81/ hour
Top 25% pay
Medical Assistant jobs in Santa Maria, CA
Medical Assistants in the Santa Maria 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 Maria. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Maria.
- $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
Open Medical Assistant roles in Santa Maria
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Named employers near Santa Maria, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportMedical Assistant pay in Santa Maria, 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 Maria 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 Maria
- 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 Maria 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 Maria
| 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 Maria
CMS lists 1 hospital in Santa Maria, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marian Regional Medical Center Santa Maria, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara, CA | 55 mi | $23.90/hr | 87,291 |
| San Buenaventura, CA | 82 mi | $23.24/hr | 109,831 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 85 mi | $21.75/hr | 417,468 |
| Oxnard, CA | 87 mi | $23.24/hr | 200,616 |
| Delano, CA | 88 mi | $21.75/hr | 53,198 |
| Camarillo, CA | 94 mi | $23.24/hr | 69,881 |
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 Maria
Santa Maria city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Santa Maria, 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 Maria 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 Maria?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Santa Maria. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santa Maria.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Maria 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 Maria 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 Maria?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Maria 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 Maria?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Maria and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Maria.
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- 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
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Medical Assistant pay reportSanta Maria, 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.