The average medical assistant salary in Arkansas is $38,930 per year, with a median of $37,760. Certification typically positions candidates toward the middle to upper end of the pay range, so budgeting between $37,760 and $42,900 is a reasonable starting point for a certified hire. If the role requires specialized clinical skills, you may need to move closer to the $46,060 level that senior specialists in Arkansas typically reach.
Medical assistant salary in Arkansas (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in Arkansas is $38,930 per year. A small pool of high earners at the top of the market pulls that average upward, so the median of $37,760 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Arkansas employs 5,150 medical assistants, and the $1,170 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in Arkansas typically earn around $30,840, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $46,060 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in Arkansas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $37,760 |
Average Annual Salary | $38,930 |
vs. National Average | 15.6% below the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 5,150 employed medical assistants across Arkansas.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in Arkansas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $30,840 |
25th Percentile | $35,700 |
75th Percentile | $42,900 |
90th Percentile | $46,060 |
Employers hiring entry-level medical assistants in Arkansas can expect to anchor offers near $30,840, while roles requiring more experience or specialization will push compensation toward $42,900 to $46,060. Setting your offer below the 25th percentile of $35,700 will likely limit your candidate pool to the least experienced applicants.
Medical assistant salary by city in Arkansas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Fayetteville | $40,010 |
Little Rock | $39,530 |
Fort Smith | $37,990 |
Jonesboro | $37,700 |
Texarkana | $36,460 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a medical assistant hire in Arkansas. Fayetteville leads the state at $40,010 per year, while Texarkana sits at the lower end at $36,460, a spread of $3,550 that can matter when comparing candidates across markets or setting pay bands for a multi-site practice.
How Arkansas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Arkansas | $38,930 | $37,760 |
Missouri | $42,030 | $40,440 |
Tennessee | $41,480 | $39,570 |
Texas | $41,240 | $39,520 |
Oklahoma | $40,370 | $38,750 |
Mississippi | $36,240 | $35,360 |
Arkansas is a cost-effective market for medical assistant hiring relative to most of its regional peers, which gives employers here a real budget advantage when building clinical support teams. Every neighboring state except Mississippi posts a higher average, with Missouri leading at $42,030 compared to Arkansas at $38,930. Only Mississippi, at $36,240, comes in below Arkansas, so employers recruiting across state lines should expect candidates from Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, or Oklahoma to carry higher salary expectations.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Arkansas
How much do certified medical assistants make in Arkansas?
How does Arkansas compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
Arkansas sits below most of its regional neighbors, with an average of $38,930 compared to Missouri at $42,030, Tennessee at $41,480, Texas at $41,240, and Oklahoma at $40,370. Only Mississippi, at $36,240, pays less on average. For employers, this means Arkansas is a relatively cost-effective market, but candidates with experience in higher-paying states may expect offers above the local average.
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in Arkansas?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Arkansas earn $46,060 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $42,900, so offers in that range will be competitive for experienced candidates. When recruiting senior or highly specialized talent, plan for compensation at or above the $46,060 threshold to remain competitive.
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in Arkansas?
The salary range for a medical assistant in Arkansas runs from $30,840 at the 10th percentile to $46,060 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market falls between $35,700 at the 25th percentile and $42,900 at the 75th percentile, which is where most offers for qualified candidates should land. Use the seniority and clinical scope of the specific role you are filling to decide where within that range to anchor your offer.
Medical Assistant salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 31-9092 (Medical Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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