PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant Wilkes Internal Medicine
Advocate Health · North Wilkesboro, NC
$21.85–$32.80/ hour
New this week
Medical Assistant jobs in Wilmington, NC
Medical Assistants in the Wilmington area earn a median of $18.85 per hour, about $39,200 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $17.94 and $21.93. That ranks 221st of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 262nd of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Wilmington. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Wilmington.
- $18.85median pay per hour, Wilmington
- $18–$22typical range per hour
- 1,310medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 96cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Wilmington, NC
The metro median is 8% below the North Carolina statewide median of $20.48 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,310 medical assistants employed in the Wilmington metro area, 7.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.36).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $16.78 | $34,900 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $17.94 | $37,320 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.85 | $39,200 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $21.93 | $45,610 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $22.64 | $47,090 | 7% above U.S. median |
How Wilmington ranks
- 221st of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 262nd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 10th 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.
What your pay buys in Wilmington
- Overall prices in Wilmington run 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.85 median hour buys what $19.55 buys at the national price level, 8% 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.
Get the Wilmington Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Wilmington, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Wilmington paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$679
- Per year: $33,930
- Per month: $2,828
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Wilmington metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Wilmington
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $135 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,463 |
| 13-week assignment | $19,019 |
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 Wilmington as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Certified Medical Assistant
Sentara Healthcare · Elizabeth City, NC
$21.69–$32.14/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
260+ more Medical Assistant roles for you in North Carolina
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant (Float)
GoHealth Urgent Care · Kernersville, NC
$19.00–$24.25/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant (Float)
GoHealth Urgent Care · Cornelius, NC
$19.00–$24.25/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Certified Medical Assistant - ECU Family Medicine Geriatrics Clinic
ECU Health · Greenville, NC
$18.00–$24.74/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Certified Medical Assistant - Tarboro Clinic Walk in Immediate Care
ECU Health · Tarboro, NC
$18.00–$24.74/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Wilmington
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Wilmington, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center Wilmington, NC | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Wilmington Treatment Center Wilmington, NC | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in New Hanover County
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include New Hanover County (2 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, NC | 46 mi | $17.34/hr | 70,840 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 86 mi | $18.12/hr | 209,496 |
| Greenville, NC | 100 mi | $19.79/hr | 95,138 |
| Apex, NC | 119 mi | $20.63/hr | 75,977 |
| Raleigh, NC | 120 mi | $20.63/hr | 499,825 |
| Cary, NC | 121 mi | $20.63/hr | 182,659 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Wilmington
Wilmington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Wilmington, NC?
Medical Assistants in the Wilmington metro area have a median pay of $18.85 per hour, about $39,200 a year. The middle half earn between $17.94 and $21.93 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Wilmington a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Wilmington ranks 262nd of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 221st of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Wilmington?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Wilmington, led by Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Wilmington 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 Wilmington in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include New Hanover 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 Wilmington?
The federal per diem benchmark in Wilmington is $135 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,463 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Wilmington?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Wilmington and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Wilmington.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Wilmington 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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260+ Medical Assistant roles in North Carolina, 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 reportWilmington, 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
- Medical Assistant Wilkes Internal MedicinePermanent$21.85–$32.80/ hour
- Certified Medical AssistantPermanent$21.69–$32.14/ hour
+ 62 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.