Do medical assistants need a license in Pennsylvania?

No statewide license is required for medical assistants in Pennsylvania. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT).

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania (2026)

Q: How long does medical assistant training take in Pennsylvania?

Most people become a Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania through a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants.

Q: How much do medical assistants earn in Pennsylvania?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical assistants in Pennsylvania earned a median annual wage of approximately $43,920. Employment concentration in Pennsylvania is roughly 0.72 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 Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 23,050 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

Pennsylvania medical assistants earn a median annual wage of $43,920 ($21.12/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 23,050 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.9% below the national median of $45,690 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $43,920 ($21.12/hr)
25th percentile: $38,950 per year
75th percentile: $46,490 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $48,500 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,810 per year
Workers employed in Pennsylvania: 23,050
Versus national median: -3.9% below the U.S. median of $45,690
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.72 - this occupation is less concentrated in Pennsylvania than the national average

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

Pennsylvania employs about 23,050 medical assistants earning a median $43,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Medical Assistant here means completing a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants.

Key Facts

Median wage (Pennsylvania): $43,920/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Pennsylvania: 23,050 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.72x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 12.5% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Medical Assistant Schools in Pennsylvania

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education	77.6	Contact school for pricing	$48,902	90%	—	33 mi
2	Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster	71.5	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	Yes*	43 mi
3	YTI Career Institute-York	66.8	Contact school for pricing	$40,192	43%	Yes*	30 mi
4	Lancaster County Career and Technology Center	64.1	Contact school for pricing	$56,037	82%	—	45 mi
5	Schuylkill Technology Center	60.6	Contact school for pricing	$53,477	60%	—	47 mi
6	Central Penn College	47.6	$19,854 - $27,116	$52,318	43%	Yes*	5 mi
7	Reading Area Community College	42.2	Contact school for pricing	$45,446	30%	Yes*	54 mi
8	Harrisburg Area Community College	37.5	Contact school for pricing	$54,031	21%	Yes*	6 mi
9	Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute	34.4	Contact school for pricing	$34,393	Not reported	—	51 mi
10	Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute-Lewisburg	30.1	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	41 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Pennsylvania employs approximately 23,050 medical assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $43,920 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 Pennsylvania, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: medical assisting certificate or diploma program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants
Exam: CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT)
Median wage (Pennsylvania): $43,920 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania

How to become a Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania? Complete a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Pennsylvania? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT). See the licensing section below.

What do medical assistants earn in Pennsylvania? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Pennsylvania is $43,920 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,810 and experienced professionals can earn $48,500 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a medical assisting program. Finish a certificate or diploma program in Pennsylvania, often under a year. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CMA or RMA. Pass CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT). Employers typically require one of these.
Confirm any state delegation rules. Most states do not license medical assistants. Scope is set by the delegating provider and state medical-board rules.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Medical Assistant License Requirements in Pennsylvania

Most states do not license medical assistants. Employers expect CMA or RMA after a short program.

Typical path

Complete a medical assisting program.
Earn CMA or RMA.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Medical Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

Medical Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	13,150	$45,890	$45,730	$38,300	$53,400
Pittsburgh	4,810	$42,840	$42,140	$34,790	$47,010
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	1,640	$45,400	$43,850	$36,450	$48,080
Harrisburg-Carlisle	1,370	$43,820	$43,300	$37,140	$47,130
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre	840	$42,760	$42,570	$34,320	$48,860
Lancaster	770	$42,910	$42,880	$36,100	$47,510
Reading	730	$45,610	$44,900	$37,080	$55,360
York-Hanover	710	$43,620	$43,320	$38,210	$49,280
Erie	460	$39,640	$40,490	$35,030	$45,550
Altoona	270	$39,140	$40,140	$35,090	$45,350
Chambersburg	240	$43,830	$44,350	$37,490	$57,070
Lebanon	180	$43,490	$43,220	$37,270	$49,540
State College	180	$42,720	$42,370	$35,710	$46,260
Williamsport	180	$40,530	$41,140	$35,940	$45,020
Gettysburg	140	$43,480	$42,120	$36,580	$46,280
Johnstown	140	$38,400	$40,380	$36,050	$47,830

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for medical assistants in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 23,050 medical assistants ¹. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Pennsylvania? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Pennsylvania.

How much do medical assistants earn in Pennsylvania compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Pennsylvania is $43,920, which is $280 below the national median of $44,200 according to BLS data ¹.

In Pennsylvania

Best Trade Schools in Pennsylvania (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Pennsylvania

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)