How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Alabama in 2026?

A typical Medical Assistant in Alabama earns about $17.35 per hour ($36,100 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $3,008 a month and $694 a week, both figures calculated from the annual figure. Actual pay depends on the employer, city, and how many years someone has been on the job.

Alabama's typical pay sits 21% below the national figure of $45,690 a year for Medical Assistants, and the state ranks 50th out of 51 states and Washington, D.C. Lower pay in Alabama tracks with a lower cost of living compared with many other states. About 13,300 Medical Assistants work across Alabama, a sizable clinical workforce even with pay below the national figure.

Entry-level positions in Alabama typically offer around $14.25 an hour ($29,630 a year) for Medical Assistants just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the typical $17.35 an hour figure within the first few years on the job, as new hires gain clinical experience and take on more responsibility. Many entry-level roles start in smaller clinics or physician's offices before moving to larger practices or hospital systems.

Experienced Medical Assistants in Alabama often earn upwards of $21.65 an hour, with the top 10% of earners making over $45,040 a year. That is a spread of $15,410 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all factor into where an individual lands within that range.

Alabama Medical Assistant pay has risen steadily over the past decade, climbing from $25,830 in 2015 to $36,100 in 2025. That is a gain of $10,270, or 40%, over ten years. The increase has been fairly consistent year over year, without sharp jumps or dips along the way.

Nationally, Medical Assistant pay rose 49% over the same ten years, a somewhat faster pace than Alabama's climb. Pay for Medical Assistants in Alabama has moved up consistently over the past decade, though no future increase is guaranteed. Someone entering the field today starts from a higher base than someone who started in 2015.

Pay runs highest in Huntsville, where Medical Assistants earn $36,920 a year, about 2% above the statewide figure. Birmingham and Decatur follow closely, with typical pay of $36,770 and $36,690 a year. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just the city limits.

Gadsden pays the least among Alabama's metro areas, with Medical Assistants there earning $34,250 a year, putting the spread between the state's highest- and lowest-paying cities at $2,670. Birmingham has the largest Medical Assistant workforce in the state, with about 3,750 people in the role. That gap is modest, but local cost of living can still make a real difference in day-to-day budgets.

Alabama's neighbors mostly pay more for Medical Assistants. Florida leads at $43,680 a year, 21% above Alabama, and Georgia follows at $41,600, 15% higher. Tennessee pays $39,570, about 10% more. Mississippi is the exception, at $35,360, just 2% below Alabama. Certification or registration held in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary.

Medical Assistants in Alabama typically earn $36,100 a year, a figure that has climbed 40% over the past decade. Pay is lower than the national figure but has moved steadily upward, and it varies some by city and experience. Readers weighing a move into the field can check Alabama's licensing or registry requirements, and compare local pay using the city-specific pages covering Huntsville, Birmingham, Mobile, and other Alabama metro areas.