PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · San Luis Obispo, CA
$26.06–$36.81/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Medical Assistant jobs in Watsonville, CA
Pay for medical assistants in the Watsonville area centers on $23.59 per hour, or about $49,070 a year. The lower quarter earns under $21.87 and the upper quarter over $29.96. That ranks 22nd of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 122nd of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Watsonville. The free report below lists employers near Watsonville and what they pay.
- $23.59median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $22–$30typical range per hour
- 910medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 110cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Watsonville, CA
The metro median is 2% above the California statewide median of $23.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 910 medical assistants employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 9.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.79).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $19.24 | $40,020 | 9% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $21.87 | $45,490 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Median | $23.59 | $49,070 | 11% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $29.96 | $62,320 | 41% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $35.09 | $72,990 | 65% above U.S. median |
How Watsonville ranks
- 22nd of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 122nd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th 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 Watsonville
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $23.59 median hour buys what $21.47 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.
Get the Watsonville Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Watsonville, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Watsonville paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$849
- Per year: $42,462
- Per month: $3,538
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Watsonville
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
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 Watsonville as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant
Kaweah Delta Health Care District · Visalia, CA
$23.84–$35.76/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
510+ more Medical Assistant roles for you in California
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PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Redding, CA
$25.00–$27.38/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Cameron Park, CA
$26.06–$36.81/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Medical Assistant - OBGYN S. Magnolia (Full-Time, Temporary, Days)
Enloe Medical Center · Chico, CA
$24.74–$31.67/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Medical Assistant Patient Services Rep
CommonSpirit Health · Rancho Cordova, CA
$25.74–$28.82/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Watsonville
CMS lists 1 hospital in Watsonville, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville Community Hospital Watsonville, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 2 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 Cruz County
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Cruz County (1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilroy, CA | 12 mi | $29.95/hr | 60,390 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 15 mi | $23.59/hr | 62,581 |
| Salinas, CA | 18 mi | $22.85/hr | 160,783 |
| San Jose, CA | 26 mi | $29.95/hr | 997,368 |
| Cupertino, CA | 31 mi | $29.95/hr | 58,710 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 32 mi | $29.95/hr | 133,132 |
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 Watsonville
Watsonville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Watsonville, CA?
Medical Assistants in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $23.59 per hour, about $49,070 a year. The middle half earn between $21.87 and $29.96 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Watsonville a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 122nd of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 22nd of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Watsonville?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Watsonville, led by Watsonville Community Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Watsonville 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 Watsonville in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Cruz 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 Watsonville?
The federal per diem benchmark in Watsonville is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Watsonville?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Watsonville and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Watsonville.
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What do employers near Watsonville 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 reportWatsonville, 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.