Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant Per Diem -Neurology
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Lewiston, ME
$22.00–$26.84/ hour
New this week
Medical Assistant jobs in Portland, ME
Medical Assistants in the Portland area earn a median of $22.85 per hour, about $47,530 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $20.96 and $25.17. That ranks 50th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 71st of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Portland. The free report below lists employers near Portland and what they pay.
- $22.85median pay per hour, Portland
- $21–$25typical range per hour
- 1,730medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 102cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Portland, ME
The metro median is 2% above the Maine statewide median of $22.37 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,730 medical assistants employed in the Portland-South Portland metro area, 6.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.18).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.72 | $38,940 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $20.96 | $43,600 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Median | $22.85 | $47,530 | 8% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $25.17 | $52,350 | 18% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $28.22 | $58,700 | 33% above U.S. median |
How Portland ranks
- 50th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 71st of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 3 Maine 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 Portland
- Overall prices in Portland-South Portland run 2% above the U.S. average (index 101.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 5% above the U.S. average (index 105.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $22.85 median hour buys what $22.43 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Portland Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Portland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Portland paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$823
- Per year: $41,130
- Per month: $3,428
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Portland-South Portland metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Portland
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $152 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,624 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,112 |
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 Maine
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Portland as they open.
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
*Medical Assistant- Orthopedics
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Auburn, ME
$22.00–$26.84/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
35+ more Medical Assistant roles for you in Maine
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PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Medical Assistant II - Gardiner Family Medicine
MaineGeneral Health · Gardiner, ME
$20.65–$36.14/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Medical Assistant - Family Services Clinic
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Auburn, ME
$22.00–$26.84/ hour
PermanentPosted 13 days ago
Medical Assistant II (MA) - Family Medicine Institute (Full-time)
MaineGeneral Health · Augusta, ME
$19.65–$36.14/ hour
PermanentPosted 13 days ago
Medical Assistant -Clinic
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Lewiston, ME
$22.00–$26.85/ hour
Hospitals in Portland
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Portland, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainehealth Maine Medical Center Portland, ME | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Northern Light Mercy Hospital Portland, ME | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 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 Cumberland County
HRSA lists 5 active primary care shortage designations that include Cumberland County (2 geographic, 1 population-group, 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haverhill, MA | 74 mi | $23.63/hr | 68,291 |
| Manchester, NH | 78 mi | $23.31/hr | 116,386 |
| Lawrence, MA | 81 mi | $23.63/hr | 89,332 |
| Peabody, MA | 86 mi | $23.63/hr | 55,418 |
| Lynn, MA | 89 mi | $23.63/hr | 103,489 |
| Lowell, MA | 89 mi | $23.63/hr | 120,418 |
Medical Assistant jobs in Maine · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Maine
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Maine requires for your role with the Maine licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Maine taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Portland
Portland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Portland, ME?
Medical Assistants in the Portland-South Portland metro area have a median pay of $22.85 per hour, about $47,530 a year. The middle half earn between $20.96 and $25.17 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Portland a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Portland-South Portland ranks 71st of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 50th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% above the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Portland?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Portland, led by Mainehealth Maine Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Maine license to work in Portland as a medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Maine requires for your role with the Maine licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Portland in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 5 active primary care shortage designations that include Cumberland 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 Portland?
The federal per diem benchmark in Portland is $152 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,624 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Portland?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Portland and across Maine. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Portland.
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What do employers near Portland 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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35+ Medical Assistant roles in Maine, 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 reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Maine list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- MaineGeneral HealthAugusta, ME · 12 postings$28.39/ hr$20–$36
- Central Maine Healthcare CorporationLEWISTON, ME · 7 postings$24.42/ hr$22–$27
- Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 11 postings$33.96/ hr$27–$41
- CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 21 postings$31.77/ hr$26–$42
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Maine list
2What they are offering now
Low$20Median$27.89High$36
19 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in Maine, 11 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 19 Medical Assistant roles
- Medical Assistant Per Diem -NeurologyPer diem$22.00–$26.84/ hour
- *Medical Assistant- OrthopedicsPermanent$22.00–$26.84/ hour
+ 17 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.