Cost of hiring a medical administrative assistant in San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Budget above the national rate here. The median medical administrative assistant in San Francisco-Oakland earned $61,330 a year in May 2025[1], 12.6% above the California statewide median of $54,490 and 33.5% above the US median of $45,930. Nationally that is #3 of 516 areas, in the top tenth. BLS counts about 13,660 people in this job here, 12% of the California total.
BLS occupation 43-6013, area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Francisco-Oakland against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | $48,130 | $61,330 | $84,100 | |
| California | $40,650 | $54,490 | $76,020 | |
| United States | $35,930 | $45,930 | $60,530 |
Medical administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $84,100, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of medical administrative assistants in San Francisco-Oakland earns $51,510–$77,480.
What to budget for a medical administrative assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,130 | $4,011 | $23.14 | $68,757 |
| 25th percentile | $51,510 | $4,292 | $24.76 | $73,586 |
| Median | $61,330 | $5,111 | $29.49 | $87,614 |
| 75th percentile | $77,480 | $6,457 | $37.25 | $110,686 |
| 90th percentile | $84,100 | $7,008 | $40.43 | $120,143 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,820 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $16,150, or about $23,071 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in San Francisco-Oakland
At the $61,330 median, a local hire costs about $87,614 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $26,284 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for medical administrative assistants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in San Francisco-Oakland
Of the 17 roles we track in San Francisco-Oakland, this one ranks #13 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $135,040 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $49,450.
| Role | Median | vs medical administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +120.2% | 20,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +101.0% | 24,120 | |
| Accountant | +80.5% | 25,170 | |
| Executive Assistant | +71.5% | 11,250 | |
| Recruiter | +68.2% | 16,420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +58.1% | 29,980 | |
| Office Manager | +44.4% | 19,480 | |
| Paralegal | +37.0% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +31.3% | 2,260 | |
| HR Assistant | +8.5% | 1,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | +6.8% | 18,100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +1.3% | 20,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | this role | 13,660 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -5.7% | 19,930 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -16.1% | 1,250 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -16.4% | 1,410 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -19.4% | 8,510 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $45,820 in El Centro to $69,350 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $23,530 a year.
| Area | Median | vs San Francisco-Oakland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +13.1% | 6,340 | |
| Napa, CA | +0.8% | 510 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | this area | 13,660 | |
| Vallejo, CA | -0.2% | 990 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | -1.8% | 1,190 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | -5.9% | 7,710 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | -10.7% | 840 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a medical administrative assistant in San Francisco-Oakland, CA?
About $87,614 a year at the median, or $7,301 a month: $61,330 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for medical administrative assistants in San Francisco-Oakland?
The median was $61,330 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,130, the 90th $84,100, and the middle half earned $51,510 to $77,480.
Is San Francisco-Oakland cheaper than the rest of California for medical administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $61,330 against $54,490 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($69,350) and El Centro the least ($45,820).
How many medical administrative assistants work in San Francisco-Oakland?
BLS counts about 13,660 in the May 2025 survey. That is 12% of the California total of 115,050.
Does a medical administrative assistant cost more than a customer support specialist in San Francisco-Oakland?
Yes: $3,500 a year more at the median. The medians are $61,330 and $57,830.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6013: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes436013.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.