PA · Lancaster · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Lancaster, PA

The median medical assistant pay in the Lancaster area is $20.01 per hour ($41,620 a year), with the typical range running from $18.16 to $21.55. That ranks 162nd of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 193rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Lancaster. The free report below lists employers near Lancaster and what they pay.

More open Medical Assistant roles in Lancaster

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

Medical Assistant pay in Lancaster, PA

The metro median is 3% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $20.58 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,040 medical assistants employed in the Lancaster metro area, 4.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.81).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.75$34,84021% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.16$37,77015% below U.S. median
Median$20.01$41,6206% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.55$44,8201% above U.S. median
Top 10%$22.56$46,9206% above U.S. median

How Lancaster ranks

  • 162nd of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 193rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th of 15 Pennsylvania 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 Lancaster, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Lancaster

  • Overall prices in Lancaster run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $20.01 median hour buys what $20.36 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 Lancaster paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$720
  • Per year: $36,018
  • Per month: $3,002

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

Travel assignment per diem in Lancaster

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$123
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,379
13-week assignment$17,927

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 Pennsylvania

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

All Medical Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania

Hospitals in Lancaster

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Lancaster, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Lancaster General Hospital
Lancaster, PA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center
Lancaster, PA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital
Lancaster, PA
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Lancaster County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Lancaster County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 15 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
Reading, PA29 mi$21.49/hr96,000
Harrisburg, PA35 mi$19.58/hr50,649
Wilmington, DE46 mi$22.04/hr73,176
Baltimore, MD54 mi$21.67/hr568,271
Allentown, PA58 mi$21.23/hr127,138
Philadelphia, PA62 mi$22.04/hr1,573,916

Medical Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Pennsylvania

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

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

Pennsylvania state guide

Other healthcare roles in Lancaster

Lancaster city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Lancaster, PA?

Medical Assistants in the Lancaster metro area have a median pay of $20.01 per hour, about $41,620 a year. The middle half earn between $18.16 and $21.55 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Lancaster ranks 193rd of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 162nd of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in Lancaster?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Lancaster, led by Lancaster General Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Lancaster as a medical assistant?

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

Is Lancaster in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Lancaster 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 Lancaster?

The federal per diem benchmark in Lancaster is $123 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,379 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Lancaster?

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

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

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

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

Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Pennsylvania list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • ChristianaCareWest Grove, PA · 2 postings$23.86/ hr$19–$28
  • GoHealth Urgent CareBloomfield, PA · 4 postings$21.97/ hr$19–$25
  • 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 Pennsylvania list

2What they are offering now

Low$19Median$21.97High$28

6 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in Pennsylvania, 6 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 6 Medical Assistant roles

  1. Medical Assistant I, Primary Care at ConcordPermanent
    $19.48–$28.24/ hour
    ChristianaCare · Chadds Ford, PA · posted today
  2. Medical Assistant I, Primary Care at West GrovePermanent
    $19.48–$28.24/ hour
    ChristianaCare · West Grove, PA · posted today

+ 4 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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