Medical Assistants pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,040 or more. The middle half of medical assistants in Memphis earn between $37,800 and $44,980.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $39KMedian
- $45K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,410 | $3,451 | $19.91 |
| Median | $39,260 | $3,272 | $18.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,800 | $3,150 | $18.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,980 | $3,748 | $21.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Medical Assistants pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Medical assistants in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($41,480) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($46,120). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $45,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $41,410 | $39,260 | $36,330 | $47,040 | 3,350 |
| Tennessee | $41,480 | $39,570 | $34,840 | $48,540 | 19,180 |
| United States | $46,120 | $45,690 | $36,050 | $59,310 | 817,870 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Medical Assistants salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $41,410, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $35,453 a year, or $2,954 a month and $1,364 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $35,453 | $2,954 |
| Working in MS | $34,529 | $2,877 |
| Working in AR | $34,408 | $2,867 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for medical assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $41,410 buys what about $44,923 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Medical Assistants salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($44,320).
- Nashville$44,320
- Memphis$41,410
- Chattanooga$40,760
- Knoxville$40,580
- Kingsport$39,880
- Clarksville$39,300
- Johnson City$38,800
- Cleveland$38,770
- Jackson$38,330
- Morristown$37,160
Highest-paying cities for medical assistants
Vallejo, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($66,730).
- Vallejo, CA$66,730
- San Jose, CA$65,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$64,160
- San Francisco, CA$63,330
- Napa, CA$62,580
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Medical Assistants salary in Memphis: questions
How much do medical assistants make an hour in Memphis?
$19.91 an hour on average, and $18.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level medical assistants salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the medical assistants take-home pay in Memphis?
About $35,453 a year ($2,954 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,410. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do medical assistants earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($46,120).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-9092; area Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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