FL · Tampa · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Tampa, FL

Pay for medical assistants in the Tampa area centers on $19.80 per hour, or about $41,180 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.00 and the upper quarter over $22.15. That ranks 168th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 258th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Tampa. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Tampa.

Medical Assistant pay in Tampa, FL

The metro median is 1% below the Florida statewide median of $19.90 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 8,170 medical assistants employed in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area, 5.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.10).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.40$36,19018% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.00$37,44015% below U.S. median
Median$19.80$41,1807% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$22.15$46,0704% above U.S. median
Top 10%$23.11$48,0709% above U.S. median

How Tampa ranks

  • 168th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 258th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th of 20 Florida 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 Tampa

  • Overall prices in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater run 1% above the U.S. average (index 100.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 26% above the U.S. average (index 125.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $19.80 median hour buys what $19.63 buys at the national price level, 8% 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 Tampa Medical Assistant pay report

Named employers near Tampa, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

Get my free pay report

Estimate your Tampa paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$713
  • Per year: $35,640
  • Per month: $2,970
  • Florida has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Tampa

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$161
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,687
13-week assignment$21,931

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. 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 Florida

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Tampa as they open.

All Medical Assistant jobs in Florida

Hospitals in Tampa

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Tampa, 3 of the 6 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Hca Florida South Tampa Hospital
Tampa, FL
Acute careFor-profit5 of 5Yes
St Josephs Hospital
Tampa, FL
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Tampa Va Medical Center
Tampa, FL
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Adventhealth Tampa
Tampa, FL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Adventhealth Carrollwood
Tampa, FL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Tampa General Hospital
Tampa, FL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Hillsborough County

HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Hillsborough County (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Pinellas Park, FL16 mi$19.80/hr53,503
St. Petersburg, FL17 mi$19.80/hr267,102
Lakeland, FL33 mi$18.34/hr124,990
Bradenton, FL34 mi$21.66/hr58,184
Sarasota, FL44 mi$21.66/hr57,764
Winter Haven, FL46 mi$18.34/hr59,975

Medical Assistant jobs in Florida · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Florida

Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Florida requires for your role with the Florida licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Florida does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Florida state guide

Other healthcare roles in Tampa

Tampa city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Tampa, FL?

Medical Assistants in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area have a median pay of $19.80 per hour, about $41,180 a year. The middle half earn between $18.00 and $22.15 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Tampa a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ranks 258th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 168th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in Tampa?

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Tampa, led by Hca Florida South Tampa Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Florida license to work in Tampa as a medical assistant?

Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Florida requires for your role with the Florida licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Tampa in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Hillsborough 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 Tampa?

The federal per diem benchmark in Tampa is $161 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,687 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Tampa?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Tampa and across Florida. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Tampa.

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Tampa 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.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

Get your free pay report

380+ Medical Assistant roles in Florida, sent free by email

Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
That email doesn't look quite right.
Please choose your role.
Please enter your city or ZIP.

Free for candidates. No phone number, no cold calls. One-click unsubscribe.

The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Medical Assistant near Tampa, FL
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Medical Assistant pay reportTampa, FL · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Florida Physician Specialties, LLCJacksonville, FL · 1 wage offer$21.63/ hr$22–$22
  • Epe, LLC.Miami, FL · 1 wage offer$18.75/ hr$19–$19
  • New Face MD LLCMiami, FL · 1 wage offer$18.75/ hr$19–$19
  • San Jose Clinic PAJacksonville, FL · 1 wage offer$18.50/ hr$18–$18

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$18.50High$19

7 employer-reported wage offers for Medical Assistant in federal filings in Florida, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 Medical Assistant roles

  1. Medical Assistant - CMA - Telehealth SupportPermanent
    $19.00–$22.00/ hour
    BrightSpring Health Services · Jacksonville, FL · posted today
  2. Medical Assistant | Multiple Specialties & Locations | First Physicians GroupPermanent
    $20.50–$28.90/ hour
    Sarasota Memorial Health Care System · Sarasota, FL · posted 8 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
Check my pay