How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Columbia, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Columbia, Missouri earns $19.88 per hour, or $41,350 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,446 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,290, and the top 10% of earners make over $50,100.
That pay is 2% above the Missouri figure of $40,440 and 9% below the national figure of $45,690. Columbia ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Missouri for Medical Assistant pay. About 380 Medical Assistants work in the Columbia area.
Medical Assistant pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.88 an hour, or $41,350 a year.
- That is 2% above the Missouri figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,290; the top 10% make over $50,100.
- Typical pay rose +43% from 2015 to 2025, against +42% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $16.01 an hour to more than $24.09 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $33,290$16.01 an hour | $35,810$17.21 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $37,540$18.05 an hour | $37,380$17.97 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $41,350$19.88 an hour | $40,440$19.44 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,540$21.90 an hour | $46,600$22.40 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $50,100$24.09 an hour | $48,360$23.25 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Columbia was $29,010 a year. By 2025 it had reached $41,350, a change of +43%, compared with +42% for Missouri over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other Missouri cities
Kansas City pays Medical Assistants the most in Missouri at $45,300 a year, $3,950 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $37,220.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $45,300 | $21.78 | +10% | 4,220 |
| 2 | St. Louis | $44,710 | $21.50 | +8% | 6,170 |
| 3 | Columbia | $41,350 | $19.88 | this city | 380 |
| 4 | St. Joseph | $40,280 | $19.37 | -3% | 270 |
| 5 | Jefferson City | $38,260 | $18.40 | -7% | 280 |
| 6 | Springfield | $37,870 | $18.21 | -8% | 1,600 |
| 7 | Cape Girardeau | $37,470 | $18.02 | -9% | 350 |
| 8 | Joplin | $37,220 | $17.89 | -10% | 440 |
Every metro area in Missouri with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $40,440
Is Columbia a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $41,350 a year, 9% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 3.5 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.2. That makes Medical Assistants a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Columbia, MO?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Columbia earns $41,350 a year, or $19.88 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $33,290 and the top 10% earn over $50,100.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Columbia is $19.88. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.01, and the top 10% earn over $24.09 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Columbia?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Columbia typically offer around $16.01 an hour, or $33,290 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Columbia pay is 2% above the Missouri figure of $40,440 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Kansas City pays the most in Missouri at $45,300.