BLS wage data · May 2025 Healthcare O*NET-SOC 31-9092 Tax year 2026

Medical Assistant after tax: what $45,690 becomes in every state

Medical Assistants serve as the clinical backbone of outpatient settings, clinics, and hospitals across the United States. For those entering the field, it is important to recognize that the national median wage of $45,690 reflects the midpoint of the current BLS distribution. This figure represents the total annual gross compensation for the average practitioner, though individual earnings often vary based on years of experience, clinical certifications, and specific local demand within the healthcare market.

Medical Assistant take-home at $45,690 — strongest and weakest states

Same gross wage everywhere: $45,690 a year. The four states keeping the most and the four keeping the least, ranked by take-home. Rent is the Zillow ZORI metro average for that state and is clearly labelled as a rent figure, not a tax.

State	State tax	Federal	FICA	Take-home / year	Take-home / month	Rent / month	Left after rent
Alaska no state income tax	$0	$3,303	$3,495	$38,892	$3,241	—	—
Florida no state income tax	$0	$3,303	$3,495	$38,892	$3,241	$2,076	$13,980
Nevada no state income tax	$0	$3,303	$3,495	$38,892	$3,241	$1,742	$17,988
New Hampshire no state income tax	$0	$3,303	$3,495	$38,892	$3,241	—	—
South Carolina flat 6.00%	$2,741	$3,303	$3,495	$36,151	$3,013	$1,569	$17,323
Vermont planning estimate	$2,741	$3,303	$3,495	$36,151	$3,013	—	—
District of Columbia planning estimate	$2,970	$3,303	$3,495	$35,922	$2,994	$2,433	$6,726
Oregon planning estimate	$3,198	$3,303	$3,495	$35,694	$2,975	$1,818	$13,878

State income tax on wages is zero in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming — those states share the same take-home on this wage and only differ in what the local rent does to it.

Best and worst states for Medical Assistant

Five states that keep the most of a $45,690 wage and five that keep the least. The full 51-state table follows.

All 51 states →

Highest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Alaska	$0	$38,892	$3,241
2. Florida	$0	$38,892	$3,241
3. Nevada	$0	$38,892	$3,241
4. New Hampshire	$0	$38,892	$3,241
5. South Dakota	$0	$38,892	$3,241

Lowest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Oregon	$3,198	$35,694	$2,975
2. District of Columbia	$2,970	$35,922	$2,994
3. Vermont	$2,741	$36,151	$3,013
4. South Carolina	$2,741	$36,151	$3,013
5. Minnesota	$2,741	$36,151	$3,013

The gap between Alaska and Oregon is $3,198 a year on an identical $45,690 wage.

Where Medical Assistant pay sits nationally

BLS percentile wages for this occupation, and what each level leaves after 2026 federal, FICA and state tax in the best and the worst state on the page (Alaska and Oregon).

Wage level (BLS national)	Gross / year	Take-home in Alaska	Take-home in Oregon	Difference
10th percentile BLS national	$36,050	$31,146	$28,622	$2,524
25th percentile BLS national	$38,470	$33,091	$30,398	$2,693
Median BLS national	$45,690	$38,892	$35,694	$3,198
75th percentile BLS national	$49,180	$41,696	$38,253	$3,443
90th percentile BLS national	$59,310	$49,836	$45,684	$4,152

Percentile wages are published BLS OEWS values for Medical Assistants; the take-home columns are the same engine used by every AfterTaxLab calculator. About 817,870 people work in this occupation nationwide.

How the state line moves this wage

The same $45,690 under different state tax models

Every Medical Assistant in the country contributes the same amount toward federal taxes and FICA, ensuring consistency in these foundational payroll deductions. However, the state-level tax liability fluctuates, creating a notable spread in net income between states. For instance, a professional working in Oregon faces a state tax burden of $3,198, which reduces the final take-home pay. In contrast, residents of states like Alaska pay nothing in state income taxes. These variations mean that two clinicians performing identical duties often see different amounts deposited into their accounts each pay period.

States such as Florida, Nevada, and Washington offer a unique financial landscape for Medical Assistants because they do not impose a state income tax on wages. In these regions, your paycheck avoids the state-level deductions found in states like Vermont. By eliminating this specific tax, these states effectively boost the annual take-home pay to $38,892. While these states lack local income taxes, clinicians must still evaluate the cost of living in their specific metro area, as local expenses like housing can quickly offset the tax savings provided by these jurisdictions.

All 51 states, ranked for Medical Assistant

Every state and DC, ranked by take-home on the same $45,690 gross wage. Rent is the ZORI metro average for the metros published in that state.

#	State	State tax	Take-home / year	Effective total tax	Rent / month
1	Alaska AK	$0	$38,892	14.9%	—
2	Florida FL	$0	$38,892	14.9%	$2,076
3	Nevada NV	$0	$38,892	14.9%	$1,742
4	New Hampshire NH	$0	$38,892	14.9%	—
5	South Dakota SD	$0	$38,892	14.9%	—
6	Tennessee TN	$0	$38,892	14.9%	$1,607
7	Texas TX	$0	$38,892	14.9%	$1,587
8	Washington WA	$0	$38,892	14.9%	$2,278
9	Wyoming WY	$0	$38,892	14.9%	—
10	California CA	$997	$37,895	17.1%	$2,861
11	Arizona AZ	$1,142	$37,750	17.4%	$1,603
12	North Dakota ND	$1,325	$37,567	17.8%	—
13	Louisiana LA	$1,371	$37,521	17.9%	$1,598
14	Ohio OH	$1,371	$37,521	17.9%	$1,499
15	Indiana IN	$1,394	$37,498	17.9%	$1,552
16	Pennsylvania PA	$1,403	$37,489	17.9%	$1,690
17	Iowa IA	$1,736	$37,156	18.7%	—
18	Kentucky KY	$1,828	$37,064	18.9%	$1,348
19	New York NY	$1,908	$36,984	19.1%	$2,200
20	Michigan MI	$1,942	$36,950	19.1%	$1,578
21	North Carolina NC	$1,942	$36,950	19.1%	$1,712
22	Arkansas AR	$2,010	$36,882	19.3%	—
23	Colorado CO	$2,010	$36,882	19.3%	$1,922
24	Delaware DE	$2,056	$36,836	19.4%	—
25	Kansas KS	$2,056	$36,836	19.4%	—
26	Virginia VA	$2,056	$36,836	19.4%	$1,810
27	Utah UT	$2,079	$36,813	19.4%	$1,641
28	Mississippi MS	$2,147	$36,745	19.6%	—
29	Oklahoma OK	$2,170	$36,722	19.6%	$1,385
30	Missouri MO	$2,193	$36,699	19.7%	$1,486
31	West Virginia WV	$2,202	$36,690	19.7%	—
32	New Mexico NM	$2,239	$36,653	19.8%	—
33	Illinois IL	$2,262	$36,630	19.8%	$2,210
34	Alabama AL	$2,285	$36,607	19.9%	$1,433
35	Connecticut CT	$2,285	$36,607	19.9%	$2,462
36	Maryland MD	$2,285	$36,607	19.9%	$1,948
37	Massachusetts MA	$2,285	$36,607	19.9%	$2,599
38	Rhode Island RI	$2,285	$36,607	19.9%	$2,167
39	Wisconsin WI	$2,285	$36,607	19.9%	$1,563
40	Georgia GA	$2,371	$36,521	20.1%	$1,853
41	Nebraska NE	$2,376	$36,516	20.1%	$1,413
42	Maine ME	$2,513	$36,379	20.4%	—
43	New Jersey NJ	$2,513	$36,379	20.4%	—
44	Idaho ID	$2,602	$36,290	20.6%	—
45	Montana MT	$2,696	$36,196	20.8%	—
46	Hawaii HI	$2,741	$36,151	20.9%	$3,020
47	Minnesota MN	$2,741	$36,151	20.9%	$1,719
48	South Carolina SC	$2,741	$36,151	20.9%	$1,569
49	Vermont VT	$2,741	$36,151	20.9%	—
50	District of Columbia DC	$2,970	$35,922	21.4%	$2,433
51	Oregon OR	$3,198	$35,694	21.9%	$1,818

The largest single state tax bill on this wage is in Oregon at $3,198; across the 51 states the average state tax is $1,760. Local city and county taxes, credits and itemised deductions are excluded from every figure.

What this means in practice for Medical Assistant

While clinical responsibilities for Medical Assistants remain consistent, the actual take-home pay varies significantly once state tax obligations are factored into the equation. Navigating these regional differences is essential for professionals evaluating job offers in different jurisdictions. Understanding the split between mandatory federal contributions and state-specific tax burdens helps clarify the true financial value of a position, especially when considering the significant impact of local housing costs on your overall standard of living.

In practice, the annual median wage of $45,690 must be viewed through the lens of regional rent prices. While a position in South Carolina may seem attractive due to lower state tax implications, the true financial reality depends on your monthly housing commitment. For example, living in a high-rent area like the District of Columbia results in only $6,726 remaining after a year of rent payments. Always prioritize your net budget after essential housing costs are settled rather than focusing solely on the gross salary figure.

A common mistake for Medical Assistants is comparing job offers based only on gross salary while ignoring state-specific tax policies. Before accepting a new role, verify the specific state tax laws and the current ZORI metro-average rent for your potential city. Please note this is not tax advice. What looks like a comparable offer in a different state might result in a significantly different annual take-home amount once the $1,760 average state tax across the 51 states is applied to your expected pay.

Medical Assistant pay after tax: common questions

Why does my take-home pay differ from a colleague in another state?

While federal taxes and FICA are identical nationwide, state income taxes vary. Some states, such as Alaska, have no income tax, while others like Oregon impose a $3,198 tax at the median wage level.

Does the national median wage represent a starting salary?

No, the median wage of $45,690 represents the midpoint of the BLS distribution. Many Medical Assistants earn more or less based on their specific experience level and clinical certifications.

Do zero-income-tax states always provide more money?

These states provide a higher take-home pay by eliminating state-level deductions. However, a Medical Assistant must still account for the local cost of rent, which can vary wildly between cities.

Are federal taxes and FICA the same for every Medical Assistant?

Yes, the federal tax and FICA contributions are standard. Every worker at this wage level pays $3,303 in federal tax and $3,495 in FICA, regardless of their state of residence.

How does rent impact my annual financial planning?

Rent is a major variable that dictates your disposable income. For example, someone in South Carolina might have $17,323 left after a year of rent, while those in expensive regions have far less.

What should I check before moving for a job?

Research the state income tax policy and local housing costs. Always compare the net take-home pay after taxes and rent to ensure the move makes sense for your financial goals.

Sources for this page

Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national estimates, May 2025 — series OEUN000000000000031909213 (annual median) and OEUN000000000000031909204 (annual mean), retrieved 2026-09-21 via the BLS Public Data API v2 — https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm · Occupation titles: O*NET 29.0 Database — https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html · Take-home figures: AfterTaxLab 2026 engine (/assets/js/tax-2026.js), single filer, no pre-tax contributions · Rents: Zillow Research ZORI (Metro), kamuya açık araştırma dosyası (Aug 2026).

Estimates for planning only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, single filer, no pre-tax contributions, no city or county tax. Same engine as every AfterTaxLab calculator · methodology.

Medical Assistant after tax: what $45,690 becomes in every state

Medical Assistant take-home at $45,690 — strongest and weakest states

Best and worst states for Medical Assistant

Where Medical Assistant pay sits nationally

The same $45,690 under different state tax models

All 51 states, ranked for Medical Assistant

What this means in practice for Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant pay after tax: common questions

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