The published salary range for medical assistants in Tennessee runs from $34,840 at the 10th percentile to $48,540 at the 90th percentile. When building a compensation band, use the 25th percentile of $37,160 as a floor for entry-level offers and the 75th percentile of $45,580 as a reasonable ceiling for experienced hires before you reach senior specialist territory.
Medical assistant salary in Tennessee (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in Tennessee is $41,480 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $39,570 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Tennessee employs 19,180 medical assistants, and the $1,910 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in Tennessee typically earn around $34,840, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $48,540 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant hire in Tennessee, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $39,570 |
Average Annual Salary | $41,480 |
vs. National Average | 10.1% below the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 19,180 employed medical assistants across Tennessee.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in Tennessee
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $34,840 |
25th Percentile | $37,160 |
75th Percentile | $45,580 |
90th Percentile | $48,540 |
Employers hiring entry-level medical assistants in Tennessee can anchor offers near $34,840, while roles requiring more experience or specialization will push compensation toward $45,580 to $48,540. Setting your offer within this range based on the candidate's experience level will keep you competitive without overpaying for the market.
Medical assistant salary by city in Tennessee
City | Average Annual Salary |
Nashville | $44,320 |
Memphis | $41,410 |
Chattanooga | $40,760 |
Knoxville | $40,580 |
Clarksville | $39,300 |
Employers hiring in Nashville should budget meaningfully more than those hiring in other Tennessee markets, since location alone can shift compensation expectations by several thousand dollars. Nashville's average of $44,320 sits $5,020 above Clarksville's $39,300, which means a single compensation policy applied statewide will likely underpay Nashville hires or overpay those in smaller markets.
How Tennessee compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Tennessee | $41,480 | $39,570 |
North Carolina | $44,090 | $45,140 |
Virginia | $44,050 | $44,740 |
Georgia | $42,590 | $41,600 |
Kentucky | $40,940 | $39,270 |
Alabama | $36,770 | $36,100 |
Tennessee sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-effective alternative to North Carolina and Virginia without dropping to Alabama's lower pay levels. Employers in Tennessee pay a mean of $41,480 compared to $44,090 in North Carolina and $44,050 in Virginia, so Tennessee-based hiring carries a modest cost advantage over those neighboring states. Kentucky's figures are close enough to Tennessee's that compensation expectations will feel familiar to candidates moving between the two states.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Tennessee
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in Tennessee?
How does Tennessee compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
Tennessee's mean of $41,480 falls 10.1% below the national mean of $46,120, and it trails nearby states like North Carolina ($44,090) and Virginia ($44,050). That gap gives Tennessee employers a real cost advantage when recruiting locally, but it also means candidates with experience in higher-paying states may expect offers above the Tennessee norm.
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in Tennessee?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Tennessee earn $48,540 per year. If you are competing for senior or specialized talent, expect candidates at that level to anchor their expectations near or above that threshold, and budget accordingly rather than defaulting to the statewide average.
What is the average medical assistant salary in Tennessee?
The average medical assistant salary in Tennessee is $41,480 per year, with a median of $39,570. The $1,910 gap between those two figures tells you the market has some higher-compensated roles pulling the average up, so the median is the safer anchor when you are setting a starting offer for a typical hire.
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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