PermanentPosted 14 days ago
Medical Assistant I
Advocate Health · Alabama
$21.85–$32.80/ hour
Medical Assistant jobs in Tuscaloosa, AL
Pay for medical assistants in the Tuscaloosa area centers on $16.87 per hour, or about $35,100 a year. The lower quarter earns under $14.32 and the upper quarter over $18.04. That ranks 357th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 287th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Tuscaloosa. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Tuscaloosa.
- $16.87median pay per hour, Tuscaloosa
- $14–$18typical range per hour
- 570medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 88cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Tuscaloosa, AL
The metro median is in line with the Alabama statewide median of $16.82 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 570 medical assistants employed in the Tuscaloosa metro area, 5.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.02).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $12.75 | $26,520 | 40% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $14.32 | $29,790 | 33% below U.S. median |
| Median | $16.87 | $35,100 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $18.04 | $37,520 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $21.50 | $44,720 | 1% above U.S. median |
How Tuscaloosa ranks
- 357th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 287th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 8 Alabama metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Tuscaloosa
- Overall prices in Tuscaloosa run 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 42% below the U.S. average (index 58.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $16.87 median hour buys what $19.23 buys at the national price level, 10% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Tuscaloosa Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Tuscaloosa, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Tuscaloosa paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$607
- Per year: $30,366
- Per month: $2,531
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Tuscaloosa metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Tuscaloosa
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel medical assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Open Medical Assistant roles in Alabama
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Tuscaloosa as they open.
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Hospitals in Tuscaloosa
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Tuscaloosa, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dch Regional Medical Center Tuscaloosa, AL | Acute care | Government and federal | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Tuscaloosa Va Medical Center Tuscaloosa, AL | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
| Bryce Hospital Tuscaloosa, AL | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
| Mary S Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center Tuscaloosa, AL | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Tuscaloosa County
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Tuscaloosa County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Medical Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover, AL | 43 mi | $17.14/hr | 93,013 |
| Birmingham, AL | 47 mi | $17.14/hr | 196,357 |
| Montgomery, AL | 95 mi | $16.85/hr | 195,818 |
| Decatur, AL | 98 mi | $16.63/hr | 57,974 |
| Madison, AL | 111 mi | $17.44/hr | 64,029 |
| Huntsville, AL | 112 mi | $17.44/hr | 230,402 |
Medical Assistant jobs in Alabama · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Alabama
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Alabama taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
Medical Assistants in the Tuscaloosa metro area have a median pay of $16.87 per hour, about $35,100 a year. The middle half earn between $14.32 and $18.04 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Tuscaloosa a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Tuscaloosa ranks 287th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 357th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Tuscaloosa?
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Tuscaloosa, led by Dch Regional Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Alabama license to work in Tuscaloosa as a medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Tuscaloosa in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Tuscaloosa County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Tuscaloosa?
The federal per diem benchmark in Tuscaloosa is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Tuscaloosa?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Tuscaloosa and across Alabama. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Tuscaloosa.
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What do employers near Tuscaloosa pay medical assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
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100+ Medical Assistant roles in Alabama, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Alabama list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 11 postings$33.96/ hr$27–$41
- CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 21 postings$31.77/ hr$26–$42
- Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 11 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$37
- Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 4 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$34
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Alabama list
2What they are offering now
Low$19Median$26.02High$33
1193 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 1009 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 Medical Assistant roles
- Medical Assistant IPermanent$21.85–$32.80/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
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