Medical Assistant Jobs in Portland, OR
Medical assistants in Portland typically start around $23 to $25 an hour, and hospital-run clinics post ranges that top out above $33. Kaiser Permanente, Legacy and OHSU all hire MAs for their clinic networks across the metro. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and which certification employers expect.
Current medical assistant Openings in Portland, OR
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Assistant Work in Portland
Much of Portland's MA hiring sits inside the clinic networks of the big health systems. Kaiser Permanente runs medical offices from East Interstate and South Interstate in North Portland to Rockwood on the east side, Legacy Medical Group staffs specialty clinics such as cardiology across the metro, and OHSU's outpatient clinics include the Center for Health & Healing in South Waterfront, linked to Marquam Hill by the aerial tram. Multnomah County's health clinics hire for the same work under the title Health Assistant.
Two things make the job different here. Health care is one of the few parts of the metro economy still adding jobs, up 5,200 over the year to August 2026 by state figures. And the labor market crosses the Columbia River: Oregon does not license MAs, but Washington does, so clinics that float staff into Vancouver ask for the Washington credential as well.
Top Portland Employers Hiring Medical Assistants
These Portland employers list medical assistant roles on their own career sites:
- Kaiser Permanente - posts full-time, part-time and on-call MA jobs in Portland primary care, pediatrics and orthopedics at its medical offices.
- Legacy Health - Legacy Medical Group hires Medical Assistant I staff for clinics such as LMG Cardiology, Monday to Friday with no weekends.
- OHSU - hires AFSCME-represented MAs for its Portland clinics, including the Center for Health & Healing in South Waterfront.
- Multnomah County - the county Health Department hires Health Assistants who room patients, take vitals, draw blood and run point-of-care lab tests in its clinics.
Medical Assistant Salaries in Portland
- Entry level: about $23 to $25 an hour for newly trained MAs.
- Experienced: roughly $26 to $30 an hour with a national certification and a few years in clinic.
- Senior / top of scale: $31 to $34 an hour at the top of health-system pay scales, or in lead MA roles.
These are estimates built from employers' own posted ranges: Legacy Medical Group posts $23.93 to $33.50 an hour for a Medical Assistant I, and Multnomah County's Health Assistant 2 classification pays $24.62 to $30.28. For context, the federal May 2025 survey puts the average for all healthcare support jobs in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro at $24.75 an hour. Certification, specialty clinic, union scale and evening hours move pay the most.
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Portland
Oregon does not license medical assistants; the Oregon Medical Board treats them as unlicensed personnel working under a provider. Employers set the bar instead. Legacy requires completion of an MA program plus a national certification from AAMA, AMT, NCCT or NHA within a year of hire, and both Legacy and OHSU accept an Oregon EMT license with NREMT registration in its place. Local programs include the Medical Assisting certificate at Portland Community College's Cascade, Sylvania and Willow Creek locations, Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Clackamas Community College's Harmony campus in Milwaukie and Carrington College on SE 96th Ave. OHSU has also run Building Bridges, a paid 9-month MA trainee program. Working in Washington requires a Washington Department of Health Medical Assistant-Certified credential.
What the Job Involves
Medical assistants keep a clinic's schedule moving. They room patients, take vital signs and health histories, update the electronic record, give injections and vaccines under protocol, collect specimens, prepare exam rooms and instruments, and help providers with procedures. Many also handle referrals, prior authorizations and patient calls between visits.
Skills Employers Look For
- National MA certification (CMA, RMA, NCMA or CCMA)
- AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers
- Accurate vital signs, injections and specimen collection
- Epic or another electronic health record
- Clear, patient phone and front-line communication
- Speed and accuracy in a full clinic schedule
Career Path and Advancement
In Portland the MA ladder usually runs inside one health system: Medical Assistant I to an experienced or lead MA, then into specialty clinics, float pools or clinic coordination. Many MAs use the job as a base for nursing, moving on to the practical nursing programs at Concorde Career College or Sumner College, or to the ADN programs at PCC Sylvania, Mt. Hood and Clackamas, while still working in clinic.
Related Careers in Portland
If medical assisting interests you, these related Portland roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a medical assistant in Oregon?
No. Oregon has no state license for medical assistants, and the Oregon Medical Board treats them as unlicensed personnel. Most Portland health systems still require a national MA certification, either at hire or within the first year.
Which MA certifications do Portland employers accept?
Legacy accepts certification from AAMA, AMT, NCCT or NHA, and OHSU postings list CMA, RMA, NCMA and CCMA. Both also accept an Oregon EMT license with NREMT registration in place of an MA certificate.
How much do medical assistants make in Portland?
Posted ranges at Legacy run from $23.93 to $33.50 an hour, and Multnomah County's Health Assistant 2 pays $24.62 to $30.28. Most new MAs start in the low to mid $20s.
Can I work as an MA in Vancouver with Oregon training?
Yes, but you need Washington's credential first. Washington's Department of Health certifies medical assistants, and Vancouver employers ask for Medical Assistant-Certified or an interim certification before you start.
What hours do medical assistants work in Portland?
Most MA jobs are daytime clinic hours. Legacy's cardiology clinic posts a Monday to Friday schedule with no weekends, and Kaiser posts full-time 40-hour, part-time and on-call day-shift roles, so it is possible to find a schedule that fits school or family.
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