Side-by-side distribution
Medical Assistant
$47,840
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 39.1%
- Live roles
- 476
Nurse
$81,120
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 47.6%
- Live roles
- 5,287
Highest-paying jobs
Assistant Medical Director - Concierge Emergency Medicine
Medical Virtual Assistant (Scheduling & Billing Support)
Medical Assistant Program - Live Instructor
Certified Medical Assistant
Physical Therapist Assistant - Part Time- Family Medical Center of Hart Cty
Medical Assistant - Patient Advocate
Certified Medical Assistant - Kirkland, WA
Medical Assistant Team Lead
Medical Assistant (Twin Cities)
Mohs Medical Assistant - Sign-on Bonus - North Falmouth, MA
Highest-paying jobs
Nurse Manager, MDS & Clinical Reimbursement
Psych Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP, Psych APRN)
Telehealth Nurse Practitioner (1099)
Synchronous Telehealth Nurse Practitioner (1099)
Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner (Dermatology Experience Required)
Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner - Cosmetic Focus (Experience Required)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) - Remote
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) - Remote
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) - Remote
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
USA Clinics Group
|
$47,840 | 19 |
| PD PhyNet Dermatology LLC (External) | $45,760 | 17 |
QualDerm Partners
|
$48,069 | 11 |
|
One Medical
|
$47,840 | 11 |
Pp La
|
$52,000 | 10 |
MedElite Group, LLC.
|
$50,000 | 10 |
The Vascular Care Group
|
$52,000 | 6 |
|
Herself Health
|
$57,200 | 5 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
BAYADA Home Health Care
|
$69,680 | 492 |
| PH Pulse Healthcare | $68,789 | 319 |
|
MedElite Group, LLC.
|
$105,000 | 223 |
Greenlife Healthcare Staffing
|
$86,861 | 136 |
|
Lifestance
|
$225,000 | 98 |
|
One Medical
|
$169,850 | 77 |
Bethesda Health Group
|
$80,694 | 53 |
Serenity Mental Health Centers
|
$150,000 | 50 |
Medical Assistant salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $52,000 | 5 |
| Denver | $49,920 | 6 |
| New York | $45,760 | 13 |
| Austin | $43,264 | 3 |
Nurse salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $169,850 | 39 |
| Boston | $159,975 | 10 |
| Seattle | $150,675 | 8 |
| Los Angeles | $150,000 | 15 |
| Chicago | $139,360 | 9 |
| New York | $130,000 | 123 |
| Atlanta | $125,000 | 13 |
| Toronto | $76,960 | 5 |
| Austin | $70,720 | 9 |
| London | $68,967 | 76 |
Medical Assistant vs Nurse: which pays more?
The median for Medical Assistant is $47,840 per year (typically $45,500–$52,000), versus $81,120 for Nurse ($66,560–$124,200). That puts Nurse about 70% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Medical Assistant and Nurse are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.