The average annual salary for a medical assistant in Kentucky is $40,940, with a median of $39,270. Certification typically positions candidates toward the upper half of the pay range, so employers competing for certified talent should budget closer to the $45,940 to $47,940 range that the 75th and 90th percentiles represent. Anchoring your offer at or above the median will help you attract candidates who have invested in credentialing.
Medical assistant salary in Kentucky (2026)
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The average annual salary for a medical assistant in Kentucky is $40,940. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $39,270 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Kentucky employs 13,440 medical assistants, and the $1,670 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in Kentucky typically earn around $32,950, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed $47,940. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in Kentucky, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $39,270 |
Average Annual Salary | $40,940 |
vs. National Average | 11.2% below the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 13,440 employed medical assistants across Kentucky.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in Kentucky
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $32,950 |
25th Percentile | $36,560 |
75th Percentile | $45,940 |
90th Percentile | $47,940 |
Employers hiring entry-level medical assistants in Kentucky can anchor offers near $32,950, while candidates with specialized experience or supervisory responsibilities will expect compensation closer to $45,940 or above. The 90th percentile sits at $47,940, which represents the level that senior specialists in Kentucky typically reach or exceed when negotiating offers.
Medical assistant salary by city in Kentucky
City | Average Annual Salary |
Louisville | $43,680 |
Lexington | $42,550 |
Elizabethtown | $40,060 |
Bowling Green | $39,430 |
Owensboro | $38,820 |
Employers hiring in Louisville or Lexington should budget meaningfully more than those hiring in smaller markets like Owensboro or Bowling Green. Louisville's average of $43,680 runs $4,860 above Owensboro's average of $38,820, a gap large enough to affect offer competitiveness if you are recruiting across multiple locations. Candidates who have worked in larger metro markets may carry higher salary expectations when applying to roles in smaller cities.
How Kentucky compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Kentucky | $40,940 | $39,270 |
Indiana | $44,500 | $45,110 |
Virginia | $44,050 | $44,740 |
Ohio | $42,610 | $42,810 |
Tennessee | $41,480 | $39,570 |
West Virginia | $38,090 | $37,180 |
Kentucky is a cost-effective market for medical assistant hiring relative to most of its neighbors, which gives employers here a real budgeting advantage. Indiana and Virginia both post average salaries above $44,000, while Kentucky's average sits at $40,940 and its median at $39,270. West Virginia is the only neighboring state where compensation runs lower, with a mean of $38,090.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Kentucky
How much does a certified medical assistant make in Kentucky?
How does Kentucky compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
Kentucky's mean of $40,940 sits below Indiana ($44,500), Virginia ($44,050), and Ohio ($42,610), but above West Virginia ($38,090). For employers, this means Kentucky is a relatively cost-effective state for medical assistant hiring compared to most regional peers. If you are competing for candidates who have offers from Indiana or Virginia employers, expect some upward pressure on your offer.
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in Kentucky?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Kentucky earn $47,940 annually. The 75th percentile sits at $45,940, so employers targeting senior or specialized candidates should plan for offers in that $45,940 to $47,940 range. Roles requiring supervisory responsibilities or specialized clinical skills will typically command compensation at or above the 75th percentile threshold.
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in Kentucky?
The salary range for a medical assistant in Kentucky runs from $32,950 at the 10th percentile to $47,940 at the 90th percentile. The median of $39,270 sits near the middle of that range and serves as a practical anchor for most standard hiring decisions. When setting your budget, factor in the candidate's experience level and the specific clinical demands of the role, since those variables drive most of the spread across this range.
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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