Medical Assistant Salary in Richland, WA: $54,457 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical assistant in Richland, WA earns a median $54,457/year (≈ $26.18/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9092). Once you factor in Richland's price level (7% above national, BEA RPP 107.4), that paycheck buys what $50,705 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.9% below the Washington state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Richland's labor market shows a favorable median medical assistant salary of $54,457 for 2026, which notably surpasses the national average by 13.54%. With a salary range between $42,804 at the lower end to $68,831 at the upper end, medical assistants in this WA city benefit from compensation that reflects local economic conditions, adjusted for cost of living. The appeal of bilingual skills in the medical assistant sphere can lead to a premium, as Richland's diverse community demands a workforce equipped to handle multi-language interactions. This nuance in the job market means that those with language capabilities are likely to find more attractive salary conditions compared to their monolingual counterparts, enhancing their earning potential and career prospects in the area.
About the Richland Market
Salary estimated from Washington average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,804 | $20.57 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $45,321 | $21.79 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $54,457 | $26.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $57,909 | $27.84 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $68,831 | $33.10 |
Median Salary Position
13.54% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Richland
In Richland, WA, the medical assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,027 (2026 est.). At $54,457, the local median is 13.54% above the national median of $47,961.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Richland: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Richland Medical Assistant Pay Compares
Richland median: $54,457/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Richland Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $58,493 | -6.90% less |
| National Average | $47,961 | +13.54% more |
Medical Assistants in Richland, WA earn a median of $54,457 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.54% higher than the national median of $47,961 and 6.90% below the Washington state average of $58,493.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Richland has a cost of living 7.40% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Richland, WA has a cost-of-living index of 107.4 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $54,457 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $50,705 — a 6.89% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$39,514
2025 BLS Actual
$51,879
2026 Current Est.
$54,457
2019–2027 Growth
+44.7%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Richland (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $39,514 | Actual |
| 2020 | $40,706 | Actual |
| 2021 | $42,228 | Actual |
| 2022 | $43,454 | Actual |
| 2023 | $47,689 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,442 | Actual |
| 2025 | $51,879 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54,457 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $57,164 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Richland metropolitan area, the median medical assistant salary grew 31.3% from $39,514 (2019) to $51,879 (2025). At a 4.97% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $57,164 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,650 (44.67%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Richland metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.97% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $42,804 – $45,321 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $45,321 – $54,457 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $54,457 – $57,909 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $57,909 – $68,831 |
MA, CMA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Assistant Job Market in Richland
In Richland, there are currently 15 medical assistants employed, which reflects a stable job market within the healthcare sector. However, the cost-of-living index, at 107.4, suggests that living expenses are higher than the national average, which impacts take-home pay and overall purchasing power. Employers such as specialty practices in cardiology or dermatology typically offer the most competitive salaries, with pay disparities driven by specialty focus, bilingual capability, and additional certifications such as MA plus phlebotomy or EKG skills. For medical assistants eager to maximize their earning potential in Richland, pursuing certifications recognized by AAMA, AMT, NHA, or NCCT and considering employment in urgent care or specialty fields can be wise strategies.
More salary data for Richland, WA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Emma Chen, CMA
Career Analyst
Emma has over 8 years of experience as a medical assistant. She has worked in both outpatient clinics and hospitals. Her expertise includes patient care and administrative support.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $51,879 for medical assistantsin the Richland metropolitan area. A 4.97% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Richland is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.97%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for medical assistants (SOC 31-9092).
Compiled and verified by Emma Chen, CMA, a licensed medical assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov