MI · Detroit · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Detroit, MI

The median medical assistant pay in the Detroit area is $18.45 per hour ($38,370 a year), with the typical range running from $17.72 to $21.93. That ranks 252nd of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 333rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in Detroit. The free report below lists employers near Detroit and what they pay.

More open Medical Assistant roles in Detroit

1 more open role from employers in Detroit. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted 6 days ago

Medical Assistant

CVS Health · Detroit, MI

Pay range with your report
  • Full time
  • Req R1070893
New this week
View role

Medical Assistant pay in Detroit, MI

The metro median is 1% below the Michigan statewide median of $18.67 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 10,600 medical assistants employed in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area, 5.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.08).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.09$35,55020% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.72$36,86017% below U.S. median
Median$18.45$38,37013% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.93$45,6103% above U.S. median
Top 10%$22.71$47,2407% above U.S. median

How Detroit ranks

  • 252nd of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 333rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 8th of 14 Michigan 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.

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Named employers near Detroit, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Detroit

  • Overall prices in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn run in line with the U.S. average (index 100.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $18.45 median hour buys what $18.40 buys at the national price level, 13% below 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 Detroit paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$664
  • Per year: $33,210
  • Per month: $2,768

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

Travel assignment per diem in Detroit

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$152
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,582
13-week assignment$20,566

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 Detroit

CMS lists 10 hospitals in Detroit, 1 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Detroit (John D. Dingell) Va Medical Center
Detroit, MI
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Henry Ford Health Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Karmanos Cancer Center
Detroit, MI
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5No
Detroit Receiving Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careFor-profit1 of 5Yes
Harper University Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careFor-profit1 of 5Yes
Henry Ford Health St John Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Sinai-Grace Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careFor-profit1 of 5Yes
Children's Hospital Of Michigan
Detroit, MI
Children'sFor-profitNot ratedYes
Bca Stonecrest Center
Detroit, MI
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Samaritan Behavioral Center
Detroit, MI
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Wayne County

HRSA lists 18 active primary care shortage designations that include Wayne County (6 population-group, 12 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 24 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
Dearborn, MI7 mi$18.45/hr106,377
Warren, MI9 mi$18.45/hr137,686

Medical Assistant jobs in Michigan · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Michigan

Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Michigan requires for your role with the Michigan licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Michigan taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Michigan state guide

Other healthcare roles in Detroit

Detroit city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Detroit, MI?

Medical Assistants in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area have a median pay of $18.45 per hour, about $38,370 a year. The middle half earn between $17.72 and $21.93 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn ranks 333rd of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 252nd of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run in line with the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in Detroit?

CMS lists 10 hospitals in Detroit, led by Detroit (John D. Dingell) Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Michigan license to work in Detroit as a medical assistant?

Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Michigan requires for your role with the Michigan licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Detroit in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 18 active primary care shortage designations that include Wayne 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 Detroit?

The federal per diem benchmark in Detroit is $152 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,582 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Detroit?

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

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Pay report · Medical Assistant near Detroit, MI
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Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Michigan list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 11 postings$33.96/ hr$27–$41
  • CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 21 postings$31.77/ hr$26–$42
  • Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 11 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$37
  • Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 4 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$34

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Michigan list

2What they are offering now

Low$19Median$26.02High$33

1193 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 1009 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open Medical Assistant roles

Open Medical Assistant roles near Detroit, MI, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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