Medical Administrative Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Tennessee
The median medical administrative assistant in Tennessee earned $39,940 a year in May 2025[1], 13.0% below the US median of $45,930. That puts Tennessee at #44 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-6013. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $31,960 | $39,940 | $57,670 | |
| United States | $35,930 | $45,930 | $60,530 |
The middle half of medical administrative assistants in Tennessee earns $36,320–$46,730; the top tenth earns $57,670 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Tennessee median that makes about $57,057 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for medical administrative assistants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Tennessee
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $49,220 | 12,970 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $46,960 | 7,180 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $45,930 | 3,590 | |
| Cleveland, TN | $44,770 | 510 | |
| Knoxville, TN | $45,930 | 6,280 | |
| Jackson, TN | $44,240 | 1,080 | |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $44,440 | 1,220 | |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,390 | 1,360 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $44,830 | 1,130 | |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,010 | 1,720 | |
| Morristown, TN | $43,870 | 560 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $45,010 | 1,600 | |
| Johnson City, TN | $44,090 | 1,580 | |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $44,850 | 1,120 |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN pays the most ($45,570) and East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area the least ($36,230): $9,340 a year apart for the same job.
What a medical administrative assistant does
A medical administrative assistant handles a clinic's front and back office: scheduling, insurance checks, referrals, patient messages and records.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | +2.6% | |
| South Carolina | +0.6% | |
| Tennessee | +0.0% | |
| Kentucky | -3.0% | |
| West Virginia | -3.8% |
Questions
How much does a medical administrative assistant earn in Tennessee?
The median was $39,940 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $36,320 to $46,730.
What does it cost to employ a medical administrative assistant in Tennessee?
About $57,057 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Tennessee do medical administrative assistants earn the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, with a median of $45,570 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6013: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes436013.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.