Medical Office Assistant Salary in Victoria, BC (2026)

Based on aggregated data from Indeed, Glassdoor, and Canada's Job Bank, the average salary for a Medical Office Assistant in Victoria, BC is approximately $47,000 CAD per year as of early 2026. The full typical range runs from about $36,000 at entry level to $67,000 for experienced lead or supervisor roles in health authority settings. Figures are base salary only and exclude shift differentials, overtime, and benefits.

Canada's Job Bank reports a BC hourly range of $17.40 to $29.00, with a median of $22.00/hr for Medical Office Assistants. Indeed reports a Victoria-specific average of $23.79/hr based on over 100 reported salaries as of early 2026. Hourly rates are higher in unionized Island Health or hospital outpatient roles than in private family clinics.

Yes. Island Health (VIHA) MOA positions covered under CUPE or HEU collective agreements typically pay $2 to $5/hr more than non-union private clinic roles in Victoria and Nanaimo. Union employees also receive automatic step increases based on seniority, extended health benefits, and access to the Municipal Pension Plan, which significantly increases total compensation over a career.

The highest-impact skills are hands-on proficiency with electronic medical records (EMR) platforms such as OSCAR, Accuro, or Wolf EMR; medical billing for MSP, WCB, or ICBC; and experience in specialist or surgical clinic settings. MOAs who can handle referral coordination and triage intake alongside standard front-desk duties are consistently placed at higher pay bands in both union and non-union environments.

BC does not mandate a provincially regulated certificate to work as an MOA, but most employers - especially Island Health and specialist clinics - prefer or require completion of a recognized MOA or medical office administration program from institutions such as BCIT, Camosun College, or an accredited private college. Certified candidates typically start at a higher pay step and are shortlisted faster in competitive postings.

Medical Office Assistants (MOAs) perform administrative and clerical tasks - scheduling, billing, records management - and do not provide direct patient care. Healthcare Assistants (HCAs or care aides) provide hands-on personal care in hospitals, long-term care, and community health settings and are governed by a separate BC registry. HCAs tend to earn slightly more due to their direct care responsibilities; the two roles have distinct training pathways and NOC codes.

Vancouver-area MOA roles typically run $44,000 to $65,000 CAD annually, reflecting the larger volume of specialist clinics and health authorities such as Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care. Victoria's range of $36,000 to $67,000 is comparable, with the upper end tied to Island Health authority positions. The cost-of-living difference between the two cities has narrowed significantly, making Victoria an increasingly competitive market.

Most MOA roles require on-site presence for patient interaction, handling physical documents, and supporting medical staff in real time. However, a growing number of telehealth platforms and virtual care clinics in BC and nationally post remote health administrative roles that overlap with MOA duties. These roles typically require strong EMR and digital triage skills and may be posted under different titles such as Virtual Care Coordinator or Remote Health Administrator.