worthsay

Medical Assistant Salary in Tennessee: Is It a Good Career?

Tennessee · 2026 BLS salary data

a Medical Assistant pay in Tennessee

The median wage is $39,570/yr — 13% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Tennesseeranks #41 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in Tennessee

Real BLS state-level figures for Medical Assistant.

Median salary
$39,570/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$37,160 – $45,580
National median
$45,690/yr
Employed in Tennessee
19,180

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Tennessee

Salary alone can mislead — Tennessee costs 8% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
91.9
Nominal median
$39,570
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $43,058
State income tax
None

Tennessee's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #43 of 51, down from #41 on raw salary.

Tennessee levies no state income tax, so more of that pay stays in your pocket than in high-tax states.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do medical assistant professionals make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage is $39,570 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $37,160 and $45,580. That's 13% below the national median.

Is Tennessee a good state for medical assistant?

By raw pay, Tennessee ranks #41 of 51 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Tennessee costs 8% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $43,058. Tennessee's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #43 of 51, down from #41 on raw salary. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.

Are medical assistant professionals in demand in Tennessee?

About 19,180 people work in this field in Tennessee (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +12.5% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Medical Assistant nationally — Tennessee pay is 13% below the national median. See the full a Medical Assistant career guide →

The verdict

Yes as an entry point — medical assisting has one of the fastest growth rates and a very cheap, fast path in, making it a strong first step into health care. But pay is low, so it's best treated as a launchpad, not a career ceiling.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Very fast, low-cost entry (under a year)
  • Among the fastest-growing occupations
  • Broad demand in clinics and physician offices
  • Great stepping stone into nursing/clinical care
  • Mix of clinical and administrative work

Cons

  • Low pay
  • Limited advancement without more schooling
  • Fast-paced, high-volume clinic environments
  • Physically active, on-your-feet days

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People wanting the quickest health-care entry
  • Those planning to advance into nursing later
  • Anyone who likes patient-facing clinic work

✗ Probably not if…

  • People who need higher pay now
  • Those wanting a high ceiling in the role itself

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Medical Assistant is worth it — titles link to the original threads.