Medical Assistant Salary in Knoxville, TN
Medical Assistants in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $38,880 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,420 take-home, or $2,785 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical assistant salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,486
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,411
- Medicare (1.45%)$564
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,420
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Assistant pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,980 | $15.86 | $28,679 | $2,390 |
| 25th percentile | $37,050 | $17.81 | $31,950 | $2,662 |
| Median (50th) | $38,880 | $18.69 | $33,420 | $2,785 |
| 75th percentile | $44,050 | $21.18 | $37,574 | $3,131 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,890 | $23.02 | $40,660 | $3,388 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,880 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical assistant's $33,420 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,103 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Medical Assistant jobs are about as common in Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for medical assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #47 of 63 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $61,500 | $51,595 | $46,427 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $61,970 | $49,400 | $46,311 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $61,940 | $49,378 | $44,717 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $49,590 | $40,625 | $41,908 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $59,790 | $47,807 | $41,351 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $56,240 | $43,277 | $41,052 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,570 | $42,369 | $40,420 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $45,300 | $37,387 | $40,399 |
| 47 | Knoxville, TN | $38,880 | $33,420 | $36,103 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 63 metros →
About the job: medical assistants
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Medical Assistant salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $44,620
- Memphis, TN — $39,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical assistant make in Knoxville, TN?
The median medical assistant salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $38,880 a year, or about $18.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,050 and $44,050.
What is a medical assistant’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $38,880 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $33,420 a year ($2,785 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a medical assistant?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $45,690. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,103 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #47 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical assistant afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median medical assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- Nursing Assistant — $38,000
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $32,710