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Medical Assistant in Texas: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Allied healthcare

Texas employs 75,340 medical assistants, with a statewide median of $39,520 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Texas licensing picture, and where to train.

What Medical assistants Earn in Texas (May 2025)

Texas median pay: $39,520 (May 2025)
Starting range (10th percentile): $31,200
Experienced (75th percentile): $46,180
Top earners (90th percentile): $49,260
Employed in Texas: 75,340
U.S. median (for comparison): $42,000 (May 2024)

Wages vary substantially by metro. Median annual pay for medical assistants in major Texas markets:

Dallas–Fort Worth: $43,100 (20,560 employed)
San Antonio: $39,180 (7,580 employed)
El Paso: $35,790 (1,980 employed)

What That Pay Is Worth in Texas

Prices in Texas run about 3% below the national average (cost-of-living index 97.1 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $39,520 median stretches to roughly $40,700 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in Texas (2024–2034)

Texas is projected to grow medical assistants employment +21.7%, faster than the +12.5% projected nationally. The state expects about 10,970 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Texas License and Certification Requirements

CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT) — national certification, no state license — regulated by the No Texas state license required for medical assistants.

Texas does not require a state license for medical assistants. The recognized national credentials are Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through AAMA (requires graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES-accredited MA program + exam) and Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through AMT (program/experience-based + exam).
Complete a medical assisting program (typically 9–12 months at a community college or vocational school) covering clinical skills (vitals, injections, EKG, phlebotomy), medical coding basics, and office procedures. Program graduation makes you eligible for the CMA or RMA exam.
Apply to physician offices, urgent care clinics, hospital outpatient departments, and specialty practices. Employers increasingly prefer CMA/RMA-certified candidates, especially for clinical MA roles.

Official requirements: No Texas state license required for medical assistants →

Training in Texas

CAAHEP- and ABHES-accredited MA programs are available at community colleges and vocational schools across Texas. The healthcare sector's growth — especially outpatient specialty care and urgent care — makes medical assisting one of the fastest-growing entry-level clinical paths.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Texas include:

Alvin Community College — Certificate / Associate
Amarillo College — Certificate / Associate
Angelina College — Certificate / Associate
Arlington Career Institute — Certificate

Where Medical assistants Work in Texas

Real Texas hospitals that employ medical assistants include:

Methodist Hospital — San Antonio
VA Hosp — Waco
Memorial Hermann Hospital System — Houston
Houston Methodist Hospital — Houston
Baptist Medical Center — San Antonio
VA Hosp — Houston

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People who want the fastest entry into clinical healthcare and are comfortable with both patient care and administrative tasks.

Think twice if: A pay ceiling in the low-to-mid $40s and a broad scope of low-autonomy tasks sounds frustrating rather than engaging.

Why it's resilient: Medical assistants handle clinical and administrative tasks that require physical presence, patient interaction, and real-time judgment in physician offices and clinics.

First Steps

Look for accredited medical assistant programs at community colleges — many run 9–12 months and include an externship.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do medical assistants make in Texas?

The median wage for medical assistants in Texas is $39,520 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $31,200, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $49,260. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.

What license or certification do you need to become a Medical Assistant in Texas?

CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT) — national certification, no state license, overseen by the No Texas state license required for medical assistants. Texas does not require a state license for medical assistants. The recognized national credentials are Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through AAMA (requires graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES-accredited MA program + exam) and Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through AMT (program/experience-based + exam).

Is being a Medical Assistant a good career in Texas?

Medical assistants handle clinical and administrative tasks that require physical presence, patient interaction, and real-time judgment in physician offices and clinics.

Which Texas metros pay medical assistants the most?

Among Texas metro areas, Dallas–Fort Worth leads at $43,100, followed by San Antonio ($39,180), El Paso ($35,790). Local pay tracks regional demand and cost of living, so the highest-paying metro isn't always the best net move.

Where can I train to become a Medical Assistant in Texas?

Real Texas options include Alvin Community College, Amarillo College, Angelina College. Most medical assistants start with an accredited program, then earn the credential the state or employer requires.

Is Medical Assistant a growing career in Texas?

Texas projects medical assistants employment to change +21.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 10,970 openings a year — a growing field in the state.

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Texas statewide and metro estimates for SOC 31-9092. Licensing summary compiled from the No Texas state license required for medical assistants (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET Texas wages · Texas licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities; Employer lists from CMS Provider of Services, the FAA Part 145 directory, EIA Form 860, and USGS/state EMS registries (2026).

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.