Medical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a medical assistants in Georgia is $41,600/year ($20/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $45,272 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 50.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Georgia?
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What this looks like in Georgia
Medical assistants pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 51.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level medical assistants (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Assistants salary by metro in Georgia
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $46K | +11% | 16,910 |
| Gainesville | $42K | +1% | 970 |
| Savannah | $39K | -7% | 990 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $39K | -7% | 910 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $38K | -8% | 1,620 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $38K | -8% | 1,000 |
| Rome | $38K | -8% | 370 |
| Hinesville | $38K | -9% | 70 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $38K | -9% | 210 |
| Dalton | $37K | -11% | 320 |
| Albany | $37K | -11% | 470 |
| Warner Robins | $37K | -11% | 380 |
| Columbus | $36K | -13% | 900 |
| Valdosta | $35K | -15% | 340 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
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Track medical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a medical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 51.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical assistants in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical assistants typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,056/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 70% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical assistant a high-paying job in Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for medical assistants?
Georgia pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do medical assistants make in Georgia?
The median is $41,600 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,270, and experienced medical assistants can clear $51,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,803/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 51.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a medical assistants salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median medical assistants salary is worth about $45,272 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.