Medical Assistant Salary in Memphis, TN
Medical Assistants in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $39,260 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,725 take-home, or $2,810 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical assistant salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,531
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,434
- Medicare (1.45%)$569
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,725
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Assistant pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,330 | $17.47 | $31,371 | $2,614 |
| 25th percentile | $37,800 | $18.17 | $32,552 | $2,713 |
| Median (50th) | $39,260 | $18.88 | $33,725 | $2,810 |
| 75th percentile | $44,980 | $21.63 | $38,321 | $3,193 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,040 | $22.62 | $39,977 | $3,331 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,260 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical assistant's $33,725 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,587 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 Memphis, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for medical assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #42 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 |
| 42 | Memphis, TN | $39,260 | $33,725 | $36,587 |
*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
- Knoxville, TN — $38,880
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical assistant make in Memphis, TN?
The median medical assistant salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $39,260 a year, or about $18.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,800 and $44,980.
What is a medical assistant’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $39,260 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $33,725 a year ($2,810 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a medical assistant?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $45,690. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,587 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #42 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical assistant afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 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 Memphis, TN
- Nursing Assistant — $38,010
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $30,900