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

A typical Medical Assistant in Tennessee earns about $19.02 per hour ($39,570 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that comes to roughly $3,298 a month and about $761 a week. These figures reflect what a Medical Assistant working full-time in the state typically brings home before taxes.

That pay sits 13% below the national figure of $45,690 a year for Medical Assistants, and Tennessee ranks 41st out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for this occupation. Around 19,180 Medical Assistants work across the state, compared with 817,870 nationwide. Lower pay in Tennessee tends to track its lower cost of living relative to higher-paying states.

Entry-level positions in Tennessee typically offer around $16.75 an hour, or about $34,840 a year, for Medical Assistants just starting out. Pay generally moves toward the state's typical figure of $19.02 an hour within the first few years on the job. New Medical Assistants in clinics or physician offices often start near this lower range before gaining clinical experience.

Experienced Medical Assistants in Tennessee often earn upwards of $21.91 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $23.34 an hour, or about $48,540 a year. That leaves a spread of $13,700 between entry-level and top-paying positions. Setting, years of experience, and the city where a Medical Assistant works all tend to separate the two ends of that range.

Tennessee Medical Assistant pay has risen steadily over the past decade, from $28,840 in 2015 to $39,570 in 2025. That is a gain of $10,730, or a 37% increase, over ten years. The rise has been mostly gradual, with a notable jump between 2020 and 2021.

Nationally, Medical Assistant pay rose 49% over the same decade, a faster pace than Tennessee's climb. For someone starting out now, that history shows pay has moved up over time, though it offers no guarantee of future gains. Tennessee's rate of increase has lagged the national trend but has still moved steadily upward each year.

Pay runs highest in Nashville, where Medical Assistants typically earn $44,620 a year ($21.45 an hour), about 13% above the statewide figure. These figures cover the greater Nashville metro area, which includes Franklin and Murfreesboro at the same reported figures. Chattanooga follows at $40,160 a year, and Memphis at $39,260, both still above the statewide typical pay.

Morristown reports the lowest pay in the state at $36,760 a year ($17.67 an hour), a spread of $7,860 from Nashville. Nashville also has the largest Medical Assistant workforce in Tennessee, with 6,340 employed there. Higher pay in Nashville tends to track its higher cost of living compared with smaller Tennessee cities.

Among Tennessee's neighbors, North Carolina pays Medical Assistants the most, at $45,140 a year, 14% above Tennessee's figure, with Virginia close behind at $44,740, 13% higher. Mississippi pays the least among neighboring states, at $35,360, 11% below Tennessee. Kentucky, Arkansas, and Alabama also pay somewhat less than Tennessee. Medical Assistant licensure or certification requirements can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, though applicants should confirm specifics with each state's board.

Medical Assistants in Tennessee typically earn $39,570 a year, up 37% over the past decade from $28,840 in 2015. Pay varies by city and experience, with Nashville leading the state and entry-level positions starting lower. Readers weighing a move into the field can check Tennessee's licensing or registry requirements for specifics, and consult city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.