SalaryByCity

Medical Assistants vs Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Medical Assistants

$44,200

Median annual salary

793,460 employed nationally

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$64,580

Median annual salary

1,072,540 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education professionals earn $20,380 more per year than Medical Assistants professionals — that's 46.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Medical Assistants earns $57,830 compared to $104,670 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.

Salary Range Comparison

Medical Assistants$35,020 – $57,830
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$47,330 – $104,670
$35,020$104,670

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileMedical AssistantsSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationDifference
10th Percentile$35,020$47,330$-12,310
25th Percentile$37,610$57,800$-20,190
Median (50th)$44,200$64,580$-20,380
75th Percentile$48,160$83,010$-34,850
90th Percentile$57,830$104,670$-46,840
Mean (Average)$44,720$73,700$-28,980

Employment Numbers

Medical Assistants

793,460

employed nationwide

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

1,072,540

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Medical Assistants

CityMedian
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$62,570
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$62,290
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$59,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,850
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$52,040

Best Cities for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$103,640
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$103,640
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$99,840
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$99,740
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,530

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Medical Assistants or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $20,380 (46.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Medical Assistants?
Medical Assistants salaries range from $35,020 (10th percentile) to $57,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $44,200.
What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries range from $47,330 (10th percentile) to $104,670 (90th percentile), with a median of $64,580.
How many Medical Assistants and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are there?
There are approximately 793,460 Medical Assistants positions and 1,072,540 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education to Medical Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Medical Assistants has a median salary of $44,200 while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earns $64,580. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS