PA · Reading · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Reading, PA

Medical Assistants in the Reading area earn a median of $21.49 per hour, about $44,710 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.36 and $22.82. That ranks 117th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 81st of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Reading. The free report below lists employers near Reading and what they pay.

More open Medical Assistant roles in Reading

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

Medical Assistant pay in Reading, PA

The metro median is 4% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $20.58 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 810 medical assistants employed in the Reading metro area, 4.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.92).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.59$36,59017% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.36$38,19014% below U.S. median
Median$21.49$44,7101% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$22.82$47,4707% above U.S. median
Top 10%$27.16$56,49028% above U.S. median

How Reading ranks

  • 117th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 81st of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd 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 Reading, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Reading

  • Overall prices in Reading run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 15% below the U.S. average (index 85.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $21.49 median hour buys what $22.14 buys at the national price level, 4% above 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 Reading paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$774
  • Per year: $38,682
  • Per month: $3,224

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

Travel assignment per diem in Reading

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$117
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,337
13-week assignment$17,381

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 Reading as they open.

All Medical Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania

Hospitals in Reading

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Reading, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Penn State Health St. Joseph
Reading, PA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Haven Behavioral Hospital Of Eastern Pennsylvania
Reading, PA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Tower Behavioral Health
Reading, PA
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 Berks County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Berks County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 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
Lancaster, PA29 mi$20.01/hr58,441
Allentown, PA29 mi$21.23/hr127,138
Bethlehem, PA35 mi$21.23/hr79,453
Wilmington, DE47 mi$22.04/hr73,176
Philadelphia, PA48 mi$22.04/hr1,573,916
Harrisburg, PA51 mi$19.58/hr50,649

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 Reading

Reading city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Reading, PA?

Medical Assistants in the Reading metro area have a median pay of $21.49 per hour, about $44,710 a year. The middle half earn between $18.36 and $22.82 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Reading ranks 81st of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 117th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in Reading?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Reading, led by Penn State Health St. Joseph. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Reading 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 Reading in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Berks 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 Reading?

The federal per diem benchmark in Reading is $117 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,337 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Reading?

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

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What do employers near Reading 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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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Medical Assistant near Reading, 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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