The median annual salary for medical assistants in Missouri is $40,440, which serves as a reliable benchmark for budgeting a certified hire. Candidates with formal certification often position themselves toward the upper half of the pay range, so plan for offers in the $46,600 to $48,360 range if you are targeting experienced, credentialed candidates. Setting your initial offer below the median risks losing certified applicants to competing employers in markets like Kansas City, where the average reaches $44,210.
Medical assistant salary in Missouri (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in Missouri is $42,030 per year. A small pool of high earners at the top of the market pulls that average upward, so the median of $40,440 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Missouri employs 13,050 medical assistants, and the $1,590 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level medical assistants in Missouri typically earn around $35,810, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $48,360 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in Missouri, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $40,440 |
Average Annual Salary | $42,030 |
vs. National Average | 8.9% below the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 13,050 employed medical assistants across Missouri.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in Missouri
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $35,810 |
25th Percentile | $37,380 |
75th Percentile | $46,600 |
90th Percentile | $48,360 |
When setting an offer for a medical assistant in Missouri, the $35,810 to $48,360 range gives you a defensible floor and ceiling tied to actual market data. Candidates with clinical specialization or several years of experience will expect offers closer to the $46,600 to $48,360 band, so build that flexibility into your compensation plan before you start interviewing.
Medical assistant salary by city in Missouri
City | Average Annual Salary |
Kansas City | $44,210 |
St. Louis | $43,730 |
Columbia | $41,790 |
Springfield | $39,850 |
Joplin | $38,520 |
Where you hire in Missouri will meaningfully affect your compensation budget for this role. Kansas City commands the highest average at $44,210, while Joplin sits at $38,520, a spread of more than $5,600 annually that you should factor into any multi-location hiring plan. Candidates in the major metro markets of Kansas City and St. Louis will generally arrive with higher salary expectations than those in smaller markets like Springfield or Joplin.
How Missouri compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Missouri | $42,030 | $40,440 |
Illinois | $45,770 | $46,090 |
Indiana | $44,500 | $45,110 |
Ohio | $42,610 | $42,810 |
Kansas | $41,490 | $39,510 |
Tennessee | $41,480 | $39,570 |
Missouri sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-effective state to hire medical assistants compared to Illinois and Indiana but broadly in line with Ohio, Kansas, and Tennessee. Employers hiring across state lines should expect to pay roughly $3,700 more per year on average in Illinois than in Missouri. Kansas and Tennessee offer slightly lower average costs, but the differences are small enough that other factors like local labor supply will likely drive your location decision more than salary alone.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Missouri
How much do certified medical assistants make in Missouri?
What do the top-earning Medical Assistants make in Missouri?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Missouri earn $48,360 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $46,600, so the top quarter of earners occupy a relatively narrow band between those two figures. When competing for senior or highly specialized talent, budget toward the upper end of that range and factor in that Kansas City and St. Louis candidates will often expect compensation above the statewide average.
How does Missouri compare to other states for Medical Assistant salary?
Missouri's average medical assistant salary of $42,030 runs 8.9% below the national mean of $46,120, which positions the state as a moderately cost-effective market for this role. Neighboring Illinois averages $45,770 and Indiana averages $44,500, so employers with operations in those states should expect higher compensation budgets there. Kansas and Tennessee are close to Missouri's level, with averages of $41,490 and $41,480 respectively, making the region broadly consistent outside of Illinois and Indiana.
What is the average Medical Assistant salary in Missouri?
The average medical assistant salary in Missouri is $42,030 per year. The median of $40,440 is the more practical anchor for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of higher-paid roles pulls the average above what most candidates will expect. Use the $40,440 median as your baseline offer reference and adjust upward based on the candidate's experience level and the specific city where the role is located.
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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The Rippling Team
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