Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant salary in North Carolina

Medical Assistants in North Carolina earn a median of $20.48 per hour, about $42,600 a year, 4% below the U.S. median of $21.25. The middle half earn between $17.96 and $22.28 per hour. The highest median among North Carolina metro areas is in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, at $21.79 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.

Medical Assistant pay in North Carolina: percentiles

LevelNorth Carolina per hourNorth Carolina per yearU.S. per hour
Lowest 10%$16.79$34,920$16.84
Lower quartile$17.96$37,360$18.08
Median$20.48$42,600$21.25
Upper quartile$22.28$46,340$23.15
Top 10%$24.86$51,710$27.80

Medical Assistant pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areaMedian / hrMedian / yearEmployedvs North Carolina medianAfter cost of living
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$21.79$45,3306,8906% above$22.38
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$21.69$45,1101,9306% above$22.23
Greensboro-High Point, NC$21.26$44,2201,4904% above$22.89
Burlington, NC$21.14$43,9803203% above$22.68
Raleigh-Cary, NC$20.63$42,9003,3701% above$21.02
Winston-Salem, NC$20.27$42,1601,3401% below$22.02
Greenville, NC$19.79$41,1605503% below$22.39
Asheville, NC$19.19$39,9101,3806% below$19.88
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC$19.13$39,7903307% below—
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC$19.10$39,7309007% below$21.59
Wilmington, NC$18.85$39,2001,3108% below$19.55
Rocky Mount, NC$18.61$38,7101509% below$21.14
Fayetteville, NC$18.12$37,70073012% below$19.70
Goldsboro, NC$17.88$37,19013013% below—
Jacksonville, NC$17.34$36,08021015% below$18.83

Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).

Medical Assistant pay in states next to North Carolina

StateMedian / hrMedian / yearCompared with North Carolina
Georgia$18.75$39,0008% below North Carolina
South Carolina$18.66$38,8209% below North Carolina
Tennessee$18.34$38,15010% below North Carolina
Virginia$20.34$42,3101% below North Carolina

What employers are posting in North Carolina

  • 64roles with published pay
  • $27.32median pay per hour
  • $19–$34typical published range
  • 4employers hiring
EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Advocate Health40$27.32
ECU Health15$21.37
Sentara Healthcare5$26.91
GoHealth Urgent Care4$21.62

Midpoints of pay ranges in 64 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.

Medical Assistant jobs in North Carolina · Medical Assistant salary nationwide · North Carolina state guide

Common questions

How much does a medical assistant make in North Carolina?

The median is $20.48 per hour, about $42,600 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $16.79 and the top 10% earn over $24.86 (BLS, May 2024).

Which North Carolina city pays medical assistants the most?

Among North Carolina metro areas, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC has the highest median at $21.79 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.

Where does North Carolina rank for medical assistant pay?

North Carolina ranks 27th of 50 states by median medical assistant pay.

Is this the same as the pay in job postings?

No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.

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Pay report · Medical Assistant near North Carolina
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Medical Assistant pay reportNorth Carolina · 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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