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Medical Assistant.

Atlanta.

$43,000

median salary, 2% below the national average

$37,000 to $47,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

If you are evaluating a Medical Assistant offer in Atlanta, GA, here is the reality: $37,000 to $47,000, with $43,000 as the midpoint. 2% below the national average. Certification status is the largest pay differentiator, with CMA and RMA credentials adding 10 to 15% over uncertified MAs. Do not accept the first number. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$37,000

per year

Median

$43,000

per year

75th Percentile

$47,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$37,000$47,000

Orbyt estimate for Medical Assistant in Atlanta, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $46,060 for Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092) in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area, based on 16,910 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$36,340

25th percentile

$38,560

Median

$46,060

75th percentile

$47,610

90th percentile

$58,310

Workers surveyed

16,910

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092) rather than Medical Assistant specifically. The Atlanta range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 31-9092

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $39,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$28,000

to $34,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$37,000

to $45,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$47,000

to $56,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$54,000

to $67,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $9,000 to the total package.

Base

$43,000

Equity

$5,000

Bonus

$3,000

Signing

$1,000

Estimated total: $52,000

How Atlanta compares.

Atlanta, GA

$43,000

Cost of living: 2% above average

National Average

$44,000

Atlanta is $1,000 below

Medical Assistant salary by city.

Medical Assistant salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$62,000$53,000 to $68,0001.38x$45,000
New York, NY$58,000$50,000 to $63,0001.28x$45,000
San Francisco, CA$58,000$50,000 to $63,0001.35x$43,000
Honolulu, HI$58,000$50,000 to $64,0001.30x$45,000
Seattle, WA$55,000$48,000 to $60,0001.24x$44,000
San Diego, CA$54,000$46,000 to $58,0001.17x$46,000
Washington DC, DC$54,000$47,000 to $59,0001.25x$43,000
Boston, MA$53,000$46,000 to $58,0001.22x$43,000
Newark, NJ$52,000$45,000 to $57,0001.18x$44,000
Atlanta, GA$43,000$37,000 to $47,0001.02x$42,000

See all 81 cities for Medical Assistant →

Salary by role in Atlanta.

Salary comparison by role in Atlanta
RoleMedianRange
CTO$312,000$243,000 to $406,000
CEO$283,000$206,000 to $391,000
General Counsel$277,000$216,000 to $360,000
Welder$51,000$46,000 to $62,000
Pharmacy Technician$45,000$38,000 to $51,000
Medical Assistant$43,000$37,000 to $47,000
Customer Service Representative$43,000$36,000 to $50,000
Home Health Aide$36,000$31,000 to $39,000

What you should know.

The Medical Assistant landscape in Atlanta is not what most salary sites will tell you. Atlanta is a logistics and corporate powerhouse, home to Coca Cola, Delta, Home Depot, and UPS. The city's tech scene has expanded rapidly with major investments from Google, Microsoft, and a thriving fintech community. Atlanta offers strong salaries relative to its moderate cost of living, making it one of the best value metros for professionals. Certification status is the largest pay differentiator, with CMA and RMA credentials adding 10 to 15% over uncertified MAs. Specialty practices like dermatology, orthopedics, and cardiology pay more than general primary care. Urban areas and hospital-owned practices consistently offer higher wages than rural independent clinics.

Entry-level MAs start at $30,000 to $34,000 without certification. Certified MAs with three to five years of experience earn $38,000 to $44,000. Lead MAs or clinical supervisors overseeing support staff can reach $46,000 to $55,000 in larger practices or health systems. In Atlanta, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. Medical assistants typically receive health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plan access. Some employers offer tuition assistance for nursing or allied health programs, which adds long-term value beyond the base salary. And on the tax side: georgia has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 5.49%. Atlanta does not impose a separate city income tax, keeping the combined burden below most northeastern cities. When someone quotes you $43,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Mention Atlanta's role as a regional tech capital. Employers are investing heavily to retain talent against poaching from coastal firms offering remote positions. The range for Medical Assistants in Atlanta runs from $37,000 to $47,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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Enter your Medical Assistant offer to see where you stand in Atlanta.

$

25th

$37,000

Median

$43,000

75th

$47,000

Considering a related role?

Common questions.

Certified medical assistants earn 10 to 15% more than uncertified peers, translating to $3,500 to $5,500 annually. The CMA and RMA credentials signal competency and reduce employer training costs, making certified candidates more competitive for higher-paying positions.

Dermatology, orthopedics, and cardiology practices tend to pay MAs the most, often $40,000 to $48,000. These specialties require procedural assistance skills and specialized knowledge that command premium compensation over general family practice roles.

Georgia has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 5.49%. Atlanta does not impose a separate city income tax, keeping the combined burden below most northeastern cities. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Atlanta is a logistics and corporate powerhouse, home to Coca Cola, Delta, Home Depot, and UPS. The city's tech scene has expanded rapidly with major investments from Google, Microsoft, and a thriving fintech community. For Medical Assistants specifically, the median salary of $43,000 reflects that demand.

Ask about equity structure, vesting schedule, annual bonus targets, 401(k) match, health insurance premiums, PTO policy, and remote flexibility. Medical assistants typically receive health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plan access. In Atlanta's market, these extras can add $10,750 or more on top of the base salary.

Atlanta's economy is driven by Logistics & Supply Chain, Financial Services, Technology, and Film & Entertainment. Medical Assistants are hired across these sectors, though compensation can vary 15 to 25% between industries. Company size and funding stage also influence total packages significantly.

Medical Assistant salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Atlanta.

Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Medical Assistants in Atlanta.

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Medical Assistant Salary in Atlanta, GA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/medical-assistant/atlanta

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