CA · Stockton · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Stockton, CA

Pay for medical assistants in the Stockton area centers on $22.48 per hour, or about $46,750 a year. The lower quarter earns under $20.07 and the upper quarter over $33.13. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Stockton. That ranks 64th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 127th of 339 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Stockton.

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Medical Assistant pay in Stockton, CA

The metro median is 3% below the California statewide median of $23.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,480 medical assistants employed in the Stockton-Lodi metro area, 5.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.00).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.91$37,25016% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$20.07$41,7506% below U.S. median
Median$22.48$46,7506% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$33.13$68,91056% above U.S. median
Top 10%$36.46$75,84072% above U.S. median

How Stockton ranks

  • 64th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 127th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 15th 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 Stockton

  • Overall prices in Stockton-Lodi run 5% above the U.S. average (index 105.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 16% above the U.S. average (index 115.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $22.48 median hour buys what $21.39 buys at the national price level, 1% 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 Stockton paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$809
  • Per year: $40,464
  • Per month: $3,372

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

Travel assignment per diem in Stockton

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$132
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,442
13-week assignment$18,746

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 Stockton

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Stockton, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
St Joseph's Medical Center Of Stockton
Stockton, CA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Dameron Hospital
Stockton, CA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
St Joseph's Behavioral Health Center
Stockton, CA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in San Joaquin County

HRSA lists 5 active primary care shortage designations that include San Joaquin County (2 population-group, 3 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
Lodi, CA10 mi$22.48/hr68,642
Manteca, CA14 mi$22.48/hr94,292
Brentwood, CA23 mi$28.80/hr66,286
Antioch, CA27 mi$28.80/hr118,453
Modesto, CA29 mi$23.33/hr220,592
Elk Grove, CA31 mi$30.08/hr182,797

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 Stockton

Stockton city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Stockton, CA?

Medical Assistants in the Stockton-Lodi metro area have a median pay of $22.48 per hour, about $46,750 a year. The middle half earn between $20.07 and $33.13 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Stockton-Lodi ranks 127th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 64th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 5% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring medical assistants in Stockton?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Stockton. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Stockton.

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

HRSA lists 5 active primary care shortage designations that include San Joaquin 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 Stockton?

The federal per diem benchmark in Stockton is $132 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,442 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Stockton?

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

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

Your Medical Assistant pay reportStockton, 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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