Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary in Nashville, TN
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $45,570 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,795 take-home, or $3,233 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical secretary and administrative assistant salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,288
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,825
- Medicare (1.45%)$661
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,795
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,500 | $17.55 | $31,508 | $2,626 |
| 25th percentile | $38,320 | $18.42 | $32,970 | $2,748 |
| Median (50th) | $45,570 | $21.91 | $38,795 | $3,233 |
| 75th percentile | $49,220 | $23.66 | $41,728 | $3,477 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,260 | $28.49 | $49,795 | $4,150 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,570 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical secretary and administrative assistant's $38,795 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,270 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nashville, TN has 1.9× the national concentration of medical secretary and administrative assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for medical secretaries and administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #12 of 69 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $69,350 | $54,380 | $49,247 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $60,350 | $50,671 | $45,595 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $57,730 | $46,302 | $43,407 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $61,330 | $48,932 | $42,324 |
| 5 | Winston, NC | $46,370 | $38,097 | $41,390 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $45,920 | $38,596 | $41,094 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,310 | $39,127 | $40,950 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $46,180 | $38,798 | $40,682 |
| 12 | Nashville, TN | $45,570 | $38,795 | $40,270 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 69 metros →
About the job: medical secretaries and administrative assistants
Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $39,940
- Chattanooga, TN — $38,640
- Knoxville, TN — $38,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical secretary and administrative assistant make in Nashville, TN?
The median medical secretary and administrative assistant salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $45,570 a year, or about $21.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,320 and $49,220.
What is a medical secretary and administrative assistant’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $45,570 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $38,795 a year ($3,233 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a medical secretary and administrative assistant?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $45,930. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,270 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #12 of 69 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical secretary and administrative assistant afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median medical secretary and administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Nashville, TN
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- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $56,270
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,810
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $49,000
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $48,640
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $45,780
- Customer Service Representative — $45,510
- Office Clerks, General — $43,860
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $36,810
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