"How long does it take to become a medical assistant in Massachusetts?"

"Most paths into the medical assistant field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do medical assistants need a license in Massachusetts?"

"No statewide license is required for medical assistants in Massachusetts. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CMA (Certified Medical Assistant), and RMA (Registered Medical Assistant)."

"What apprenticeships are available for medical assistants in Massachusetts?"

"In Massachusetts, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Training, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Medical Assistant in Massachusetts

Q: "How much do medical assistants earn in Massachusetts?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical assistants in Massachusetts earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,460. Employment concentration in Massachusetts is roughly 0.78 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for medical assistants in Massachusetts?"

"Massachusetts currently employs approximately 14,880 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Massachusetts medical assistants earn a median annual wage of $49,460 ($23.78/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 14,880 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 8.3% above the national median of $45,690 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $49,460 ($23.78/hr)
25th percentile: $46,910 per year
75th percentile: $58,100 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $61,870 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $43,280 per year
Workers employed in Massachusetts: 14,880
Versus national median: 8.3% above the U.S. median of $45,690
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.78 - this occupation is less concentrated in Massachusetts than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Massachusetts employs approximately 14,880 medical assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,460 ¹. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 112,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a medical assistant in Massachusetts, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Medical Assistant in Massachusetts

How do I become a medical assistant in Massachusetts? Massachusetts does not require a state license for medical assistants, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) and RMA (Registered Medical Assistant). Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Massachusetts? No state license is required, but certifications such as CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) and RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) are expected by most employers.

What do medical assistants earn in Massachusetts? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Massachusetts is $49,460 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,280 and experienced professionals can earn $61,870 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Massachusetts): $49,460 per year ¹

Medical Assistant Certification Options in Massachusetts

Massachusetts does not require a state license to work as a medical assistant. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for medical assistants include:

CMA (Certified Medical Assistant)
RMA (Registered Medical Assistant)

For more information, visit the AAMA - American Association of Medical Assistants ³. Contact training programs in Massachusetts for details on certification preparation courses.

Medical Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

Medical Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), medical assistants wages in Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	10,750	$50,740	$53,270	$46,070	$62,500
Providence-Warwick	4,120	$47,020	$47,260	$39,280	$56,390
Worcester	1,770	$47,240	$49,490	$40,960	$59,160
Springfield	1,280	$48,510	$48,580	$40,450	$56,110
Barnstable Town	380	$49,900	$52,010	$44,050	$65,500
Pittsfield	280	$45,990	$45,790	$38,400	$57,460
Amherst Town-Northampton	270	$47,260	$48,510	$40,870	$57,810

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Medical assistants in Massachusetts

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest medical assistant employment within Massachusetts according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	10,750	$50,740
Worcester	1,770	$47,240
Springfield	1,280	$48,510
Barnstable Town	380	$49,900
Pittsfield	280	$45,990

Explore More Trades in Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for medical assistants in Massachusetts? Massachusetts currently employs approximately 14,880 medical assistants ¹. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Massachusetts? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Massachusetts.

How much do medical assistants earn in Massachusetts compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Massachusetts is $49,460, which is $5,260 above the national median of $44,200 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
AAMA - American Association of Medical Assistants: https://www.aama-ntl.org/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)