NC · Wake Forest · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Wake Forest, NC

Medical Assistants in the Wake Forest area earn a median of $20.63 per hour, about $42,900 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.34 and $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 6 hospitals in the Wake Forest metro area. The free report below lists employers near Wake Forest and what they pay.

More open Medical Assistant roles in Wake Forest

2 more open roles from employers in Wake Forest. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted 26 days ago

Medical Assistant

WakeMed Health and Hospitals · Wake Forest, NC

Pay range with your report
  • Supplemental Clinical Nursing Support My
  • Req 32818
View role

Medical Assistant pay in Wake Forest, 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 Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Wake Forest

  • 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 Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest

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 Wake Forest as they open.

All Medical Assistant jobs in North Carolina

Hospitals in the Raleigh-Cary area

CMS lists 6 hospitals in the Raleigh-Cary area, 3 of the 3 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, Cary Hospital
Cary, NC
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Wakemed, Raleigh Campus
Raleigh, NC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Holly Hill Mental Health Services
Raleigh, NC
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Raleigh Oaks Behavioral Health
Garner, 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
Raleigh, NC12 mi$20.63/hr499,825
Cary, NC21 mi$20.63/hr182,659
Durham, NC22 mi$21.69/hr301,870
Chapel Hill, NC30 mi$21.69/hr64,028
Rocky Mount, NC39 mi$18.61/hr54,541
Burlington, NC54 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 Wake Forest

Wake Forest city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Wake Forest, 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 Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest?

CMS lists 6 hospitals in the Raleigh-Cary area, 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 Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest?

The federal per diem benchmark in Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest?

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

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What do employers near Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest, NC
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Medical Assistant pay reportWake Forest, 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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