Cost of hiring a medical administrative assistant in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of the District of Columbia, and it is Washington-Arlington. The median is $48,280 a year[1], 1.8% below the District of Columbia median of $49,180 and 5.1% above the US median of $45,930. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#63 of 516). BLS counts about 18,960 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-6013, area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Washington-Arlington against the District of Columbia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | $39,710 | $48,280 | $61,750 | |
| District of Columbia | $45,400 | $49,180 | $59,810 | |
| United States | $35,930 | $45,930 | $60,530 |
Medical administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $61,750, 1.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of medical administrative assistants in Washington-Arlington earns $46,710–$57,680.
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 | $39,710 | $3,309 | $19.09 | $56,729 |
| 25th percentile | $46,710 | $3,892 | $22.46 | $66,729 |
| Median | $48,280 | $4,023 | $23.21 | $68,971 |
| 75th percentile | $57,680 | $4,807 | $27.73 | $82,400 |
| 90th percentile | $61,750 | $5,146 | $29.69 | $88,214 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $9,400 a year in pay and about $13,429 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $1,570 in pay. 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 Washington-Arlington
At the $48,280 median, a local hire costs about $68,971 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $20,691 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 Washington-Arlington
Of the 17 roles we track in Washington-Arlington, this one ranks #13 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $127,030 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $41,240.
| Role | Median | vs medical administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +163.1% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | +111.6% | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | +108.8% | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | +87.1% | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +80.5% | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | +69.0% | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +61.8% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | +58.2% | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +31.4% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | +22.8% | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | +22.5% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +11.1% | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | this role | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.4% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -4.3% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -11.3% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -14.6% | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a medical administrative assistant in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $68,971 a year at the median, or $5,748 a month: $48,280 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 do medical administrative assistants earn in Washington-Arlington?
The median was $48,280 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,710, the 90th $61,750, and the middle half earned $46,710 to $57,680.
How many medical administrative assistants work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 18,960 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a medical administrative assistant cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Washington-Arlington?
Yes: $700 a year more at the median. The medians are $48,280 and $47,580.
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.