How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Fort Smith, AR in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Fort Smith, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Arkansas.
BLS OES May 2025 · Fort Smith metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Fort Smith, Arkansas earns $17.97 per hour, or $37,380 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,115 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,610, and the top 10% of earners make over $43,520.
That pay is 1% below the Arkansas figure of $37,760 and 18% below the national figure of $45,690. Fort Smith ranks 3rd of 5 metro areas in Arkansas for Medical Assistant pay. About 430 Medical Assistants work in the Fort Smith area.
Medical Assistant pay in Fort Smith at a glance
- Typical pay is $17.97 an hour, or $37,380 a year.
- That is 1% below the Arkansas figure, ranking 3rd of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,610; the top 10% make over $43,520.
- Typical pay rose +40% from 2015 to 2025, against +36% for Arkansas as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Fort Smith?
Pay in Fort Smith runs from entry-level positions at around $15.68 an hour to more than $20.92 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Arkansas and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Fort Smith
| Career stage | Fort Smith | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $32,610$15.68 an hour | $30,840$14.83 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $34,930$16.80 an hour | $35,700$17.17 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $37,380$17.97 an hour | $37,760$18.15 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $39,980$19.22 an hour | $42,900$20.63 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $43,520$20.92 an hour | $46,060$22.14 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Fort Smith area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Fort Smith
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Fort Smith area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Fort Smith was $26,760 a year. By 2025 it had reached $37,380, a change of +40%, compared with +36% for Arkansas over the same years.
How Fort Smith compares with other Arkansas cities
Fayetteville pays Medical Assistants the most in Arkansas at $38,400 a year, $1,020 more than Fort Smith. The lowest-paying area in the state is Hot Springs at $36,600.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Fort Smith | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville metro incl. Springdale · Rogers | $38,400 | $18.46 | +3% | 1,270 |
| 2 | Conway metro incl. Little Rock · North Little Rock | $38,110 | $18.32 | +2% | 1,660 |
| 3 | Fort Smith | $37,380 | $17.97 | this city | 430 |
| 4 | Jonesboro | $37,190 | $17.88 | -1% | 220 |
| 5 | Hot Springs | $36,600 | $17.60 | -2% | 260 |
Every metro area in Arkansas with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Arkansas typical pay $37,760
Is Fort Smith a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Fort Smith earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $37,380 a year, 18% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Fort Smith area, about 4.5 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.2. Medical Assistant jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Fort Smith, AR?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Fort Smith earns $37,380 a year, or $17.97 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $32,610 and the top 10% earn over $43,520.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Fort Smith?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Fort Smith is $17.97. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.68, and the top 10% earn over $20.92 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Fort Smith?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Fort Smith typically offer around $15.68 an hour, or $32,610 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Fort Smith higher than in the rest of Arkansas?
- Fort Smith pay is 1% below the Arkansas figure of $37,760 a year, ranking 3rd of 5 metro areas in the state. Fayetteville pays the most in Arkansas at $38,400.