How much do unit clerks and medical office assistants make in Alberta? Per the 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, medical administrative assistants, the group that covers unit clerks and medical office assistants, earn an average of $27.55 an hour, about $50,562 a year. Most earn between $19.21 and $29.76 an hour. Alberta Health Services unit clerk positions also add shift differentials and union benefits on top of base pay.
Updated July 2026.
If you are weighing a career as a unit clerk or medical office assistant (MOA), pay is a fair place to start. Here is what the numbers look like in Alberta, and in Calgary specifically.
Unit clerk and MOA salary across Alberta
According to ALIS (2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey), medical administrative assistants earn an average of $27.55 an hour, about $50,562 a year. The typical range runs from $19.21 an hour at the lower end to $29.76 at the upper end, which reflects differences in experience, employer, and setting.
What unit clerks and MOAs earn in Calgary
In the Calgary area, unit clerks in Alberta Health Services roles are covered by collective agreements, so pay follows a set grid and adds shift differentials for evenings, weekends, and holidays. A shift differential is extra pay for hours worked outside normal daytime hours. Medical office assistants in private clinics are often paid hourly, and the exact rate depends on the clinic, your duties, and your experience. Because both roles appear under one occupational group, published averages give you a reliable benchmark rather than a single fixed wage.
What affects your pay
- Employer type: hospital and AHS roles versus private clinics
- Shift work: evening, weekend, and holiday differentials
- Experience and any specialized training
- Whether the position is unionized
How the two roles compare
Unit clerks and medical office assistants share a lot of ground, and ABES trains for both in one program. If you are still deciding between them, our medical office assistant vs. unit clerk guide breaks down the day-to-day differences and where each role tends to work.
Earn your diploma at ABES College
If you want to start this career, the Unit Clerk and Medical Office Assistant Diploma at ABES College trains you for both roles in 27 weeks, with a supervised practicum. Contact our admissions team to learn about start dates and funding.
