Medical Assistant jobs in Fort Smith, AR
Pay for medical assistants in the Fort Smith area centers on $17.17 per hour, or about $35,700 a year. The lower quarter earns under $15.95 and the upper quarter over $18.67. That ranks 347th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 234th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Fort Smith.
- $17.17median pay per hour, Fort Smith
- $16–$19typical range per hour
- 330medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Fort Smith, AR
The metro median is 4% below the Arkansas statewide median of $17.86 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 330 medical assistants employed in the Fort Smith metro area, 3.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.66).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $14.87 | $30,930 | 30% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $15.95 | $33,180 | 25% below U.S. median |
| Median | $17.17 | $35,700 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $18.67 | $38,830 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $20.63 | $42,910 | 3% below U.S. median |
How Fort Smith ranks
- 347th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 234th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 5 Arkansas 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 Fort Smith
- Overall prices in Fort Smith run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 47% below the U.S. average (index 53.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $17.17 median hour buys what $19.99 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Fort Smith Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Fort Smith, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Fort Smith paycheck
- Per year: $30,906
- Per month: $2,576
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Fort Smith metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Fort Smith
| 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).
Hospitals in Fort Smith
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Hospital Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Baptist Health - Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Sebastian County
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Sebastian County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 51 mi | $18.18/hr | 103,134 |
| Springdale, AR | 59 mi | $18.18/hr | 89,368 |
| Rogers, AR | 68 mi | $18.18/hr | 75,639 |
| Bentonville, AR | 70 mi | $18.18/hr | 61,791 |
| Broken Arrow, OK | 92 mi | $18.71/hr | 122,756 |
| Tulsa, OK | 101 mi | $18.71/hr | 415,154 |
Medical Assistant jobs in Arkansas · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Arkansas
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Arkansas taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Fort Smith
Fort Smith city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Fort Smith, AR?
Medical Assistants in the Fort Smith metro area have a median pay of $17.17 per hour, about $35,700 a year. The middle half earn between $15.95 and $18.67 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Fort Smith a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Fort Smith ranks 234th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 347th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Fort Smith?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Fort Smith, led by Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Arkansas license to work in Fort Smith as a medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Fort Smith in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Sebastian 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 Fort Smith?
The federal per diem benchmark in Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Fort Smith and across Arkansas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Fort Smith.
What do employers near Fort Smith 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
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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20+ Medical Assistant roles in Arkansas, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Arkansas 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 Arkansas list
2What they are offering now
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 Medical Assistant roles
Open Medical Assistant roles near Fort Smith, AR, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.