NC · Raleigh · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Raleigh, NC

Pay for medical assistants in the Raleigh area centers on $20.63 per hour, or about $42,900 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.34 and the upper quarter over $22.20. That ranks 144th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 148th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Raleigh. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Raleigh.

More open Medical Assistant roles in Raleigh

10 more open roles from employers in Raleigh. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted today

Medical Assistant

WakeMed Health and Hospitals · Raleigh, NC

Pay range with your report
  • Full Time Clinical Nursing Support WakeM
  • Req 33479
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 14 days ago

Medical Assistant Apprentice

WakeMed Health and Hospitals · Raleigh, NC

Pay range with your report
  • Supplemental Clinical Nursing Support An
  • Req 33036
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PermanentPosted 26 days ago

Medical Assistant, Certified

WakeMed Health and Hospitals · Raleigh, NC

Pay range with your report
  • Full Time Clinical Nursing Support Cente
  • Req 32824
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PermanentPosted 26 days ago

Medical Assistant, Registered

WakeMed Health and Hospitals · Raleigh, NC

Pay range with your report
  • Full Time Clinical Nursing Support Andre
  • Req 32825
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Medical Assistant pay in Raleigh, NC

The metro median is 1% above the North Carolina statewide median of $20.48 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 3,370 medical assistants employed in the Raleigh-Cary metro area, 4.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.90).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.10$35,57020% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.34$38,15014% below U.S. median
Median$20.63$42,9003% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$22.20$46,1804% above U.S. median
Top 10%$24.41$50,77015% above U.S. median

How Raleigh ranks

  • 144th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 148th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 5th of 13 North Carolina 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 Raleigh, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Raleigh

  • Overall prices in Raleigh-Cary run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $20.63 median hour buys what $21.02 buys at the national price level, 1% 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 Raleigh paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$743
  • Per year: $37,134
  • Per month: $3,094

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

Travel assignment per diem in Raleigh

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$131
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,435
13-week assignment$18,655

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 North Carolina

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Raleigh as they open.

All Medical Assistant jobs in North Carolina

Hospitals in Raleigh

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Rex Hospital
Raleigh, NC
Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Wakemed, Raleigh Campus
Raleigh, NC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Holly Hill Mental Health Services
Raleigh, NC
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Triangle Springs
Raleigh, NC
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 Wake County

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Wake County (2 population-group, 4 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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
Cary, NC11 mi$20.63/hr182,659
Wake Forest, NC12 mi$20.63/hr56,764
Durham, NC18 mi$21.69/hr301,870
Chapel Hill, NC23 mi$21.69/hr64,028
Rocky Mount, NC48 mi$18.61/hr54,541
Burlington, NC49 mi$21.14/hr61,365

Medical Assistant jobs in North Carolina · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in North Carolina

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

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

North Carolina state guide

Other healthcare roles in Raleigh

Raleigh city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Raleigh, NC?

Medical Assistants in the Raleigh-Cary metro area have a median pay of $20.63 per hour, about $42,900 a year. The middle half earn between $18.34 and $22.20 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Raleigh-Cary ranks 148th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 144th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in Raleigh?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Raleigh, led by Rex Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Raleigh as a medical assistant?

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

Is Raleigh in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Wake 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 Raleigh?

The federal per diem benchmark in Raleigh is $131 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,435 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Raleigh?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Raleigh and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Raleigh.

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What do employers near Raleigh pay medical assistants? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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

Your Medical Assistant pay reportRaleigh, NC · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Advocate HealthCharlotte, NC · 40 postings$27.32/ hr$21–$36
  • Sentara HealthcareElizabeth City, NC · 5 postings$26.91/ hr$22–$32
  • GoHealth Urgent CareCornelius, NC · 4 postings$21.62/ hr$19–$24
  • ECU HealthGreenville, NC · 15 postings$21.37/ hr$18–$25

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$19Median$27.32High$34

64 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in North Carolina, 63 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 64 Medical Assistant roles

  1. Medical Assistant Wilkes Internal MedicinePermanent
    $21.85–$32.80/ hour
    Advocate Health · North Wilkesboro, NC · posted today
  2. Certified Medical AssistantPermanent
    $21.69–$32.14/ hour
    Sentara Healthcare · Elizabeth City, NC · posted today

+ 62 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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