Medical Assistants salary in Richmond, VA
Median pay for medical assistants in Richmond, VA: $39,610/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $33,260 – $46,350 · about 2,560 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($39,165) by +$445 (+1%).
What it's really worth in Richmond
With Richmond's cost of living at 98 (US=100), that $39,610 has the buying power of about $40,280 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $80,877 · median home $397,705 · median rent $1,763/mo.
How Richmond ranks for this job
On raw pay, Richmond, VA is 82nd of the 186 metros we hold medical assistants wages for. Once Richmond's cost of living is applied, it ranks 111th.
The headline number flatters Richmond. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, medical assistants here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Richmond
A median home in Richmond, VA costs $397,705 — about 10× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,763/mo works out at 53% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.
Where medical assistants earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Richmond.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Richmond | Rent vs Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $74,750 | +89% | 1.4× |
| San Jose, CA | $60,500 | +53% | 2.1× |
| San Francisco, CA | $59,770 | +51% | 1.8× |
| Sacramento, CA | $59,520 | +50% | 1.3× |
Same job elsewhere in VA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Richmond | Rent vs Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | $38,830 | −2% | 1.1× |
| Lynchburg, VA | $37,400 | −6% | 0.7× |
| Roanoke, VA | $36,430 | −8% | 0.8× |
Staying in VA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires medical assistants around Richmond
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- VCU Health · Healthcare
- HCA Virginia Health · Healthcare
- Bon Secours Richmond · Healthcare
- Virginia Commonwealth University · Education
Other jobs in Richmond
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.