PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant Certified
CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA
$18.96–$26.78/ hour
New this week
Medical Assistant jobs in Ankeny, IA
Medical Assistants in the Ankeny area earn a median of $21.97 per hour, about $45,700 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $19.23 and $23.63. That ranks 88th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 29th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in the Ankeny metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Ankeny.
- $21.97median pay per hour, Des Moines
- $19–$24typical range per hour
- 1,410medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 92cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Ankeny, IA
The metro median is 5% above the Iowa statewide median of $21.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,410 medical assistants employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.67).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.50 | $36,400 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $19.23 | $40,000 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Median | $21.97 | $45,700 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $23.63 | $49,150 | 11% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $26.58 | $55,290 | 25% above U.S. median |
How Ankeny ranks
- 88th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 29th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 8 Iowa 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 Ankeny
- Overall prices in Des Moines-West Des Moines run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 15% below the U.S. average (index 84.7).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $21.97 median hour buys what $23.96 buys at the national price level, 13% above 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 Ankeny Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Ankeny, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Ankeny paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$791
- Per year: $39,546
- Per month: $3,296
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Ankeny
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $121 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,407 |
| 13-week assignment | $18,291 |
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 Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Ankeny as they open.
PermanentPosted 22 days ago
Medical Assistant
Avera Health · Spencer, IA
$20.00–$28.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
35+ more Medical Assistant roles for you in Iowa
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Hospitals in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area
CMS lists 4 hospitals in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Va Central Iowa Healthcare System Des Moines, IA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines, IA | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi Des Moines, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 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 Polk County
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Polk County (1 population-group, 2 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 11 mi | $21.97/hr | 213,096 |
| West Des Moines, IA | 16 mi | $21.97/hr | 73,664 |
| Ames, IA | 20 mi | $21.55/hr | 69,026 |
| Waterloo, IA | 83 mi | $21.56/hr | 67,477 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 100 mi | $21.78/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 107 mi | $19.35/hr | 76,710 |
Medical Assistant jobs in Iowa · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Ankeny
Ankeny city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Ankeny, IA?
Medical Assistants in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area have a median pay of $21.97 per hour, about $45,700 a year. The middle half earn between $19.23 and $23.63 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Ankeny a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Des Moines-West Des Moines ranks 29th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 88th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Ankeny?
CMS lists 4 hospitals in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area, led by Va Central Iowa Healthcare System. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Ankeny as a medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Ankeny in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Polk 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 Ankeny?
The federal per diem benchmark in Ankeny is $121 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,407 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Ankeny?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Ankeny and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Ankeny.
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What do employers near Ankeny 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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35+ Medical Assistant roles in Iowa, 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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: 2 Medical Assistant roles
- Medical Assistant CertifiedPermanent$18.96–$26.78/ hour
- Medical AssistantPermanent$20.00–$28.00/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.