Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Certified Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN
$18.96–$26.78/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Medical Assistant jobs in Jackson, TN
Medical Assistants in the Jackson area earn a median of $17.84 per hour, about $37,100 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $15.86 and $18.36. That ranks 299th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 160th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Jackson. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Jackson.
- $17.84median pay per hour, Jackson
- $16–$18typical range per hour
- 470medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Jackson, TN
The metro median is 3% below the Tennessee statewide median of $18.34 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 470 medical assistants employed in the Jackson metro area, 5.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.07).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $14.12 | $29,370 | 34% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $15.86 | $32,990 | 25% below U.S. median |
| Median | $17.84 | $37,100 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $18.36 | $38,190 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $21.22 | $44,140 | in line with U.S. median |
How Jackson ranks
- 299th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 160th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 10 Tennessee 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 Jackson
- Overall prices in Jackson run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 43% below the U.S. average (index 56.6).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $17.84 median hour buys what $20.86 buys at the national price level, 2% 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 Jackson Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Jackson, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Jackson paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$642
- Per year: $32,112
- Per month: $2,676
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Jackson metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Jackson
| 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 Tennessee
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Jackson as they open.
PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Certified Medical Assistant-Xray Limited
CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN
$19.44–$27.45/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
150+ more Medical Assistant roles for you in Tennessee
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Specialty Clinic Certified Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Hixson, TN
$18.96–$26.78/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 13 days ago
Certified Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Hixson, TN
$18.96–$26.78/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 13 days ago
Certified Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Cleveland, TN
$18.96–$26.78/ hour
Top 25% pay
Per diemPosted 13 days ago
Specialty Clinic Certified Medical Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN
$18.96–$26.78/ hour
Top 25% pay
Hospitals in Jackson
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Jackson, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson-Madison County General Hospital Jackson, TN | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Pathways Of Tennessee, Inc Jackson, TN | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Perimeter Behavioral Center Of Jackson Jackson, TN | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Madison County
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Madison County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bartlett, TN | 63 mi | $18.44/hr | 56,708 |
| Collierville, TN | 64 mi | $18.44/hr | 51,951 |
| Memphis, TN | 74 mi | $18.44/hr | 610,919 |
| Southaven, MS | 81 mi | $18.44/hr | 57,493 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 104 mi | $17.47/hr | 82,384 |
| Clarksville, TN | 104 mi | $17.59/hr | 185,690 |
Medical Assistant jobs in Tennessee · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Tennessee
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Tennessee 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.
Other healthcare roles in Jackson
Jackson city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Jackson, TN?
Medical Assistants in the Jackson metro area have a median pay of $17.84 per hour, about $37,100 a year. The middle half earn between $15.86 and $18.36 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Jackson a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Jackson ranks 160th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 299th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Jackson?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Jackson, led by Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Jackson as a medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Jackson in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Madison 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 Jackson?
The federal per diem benchmark in Jackson 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 Jackson?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Jackson and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Jackson.
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What do employers near Jackson 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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150+ Medical Assistant roles in Tennessee, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Tennessee list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- CommonSpirit HealthCHATTANOOGA, TN · 10 postings$22.87/ hr$19–$27
- 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
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Tennessee list
2What they are offering now
Low$19Median$22.87High$27
10 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in Tennessee, 8 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 10 Medical Assistant roles
- Certified Medical AssistantPer diem$18.96–$26.78/ hour
- Certified Medical Assistant-Xray LimitedPermanent$19.44–$27.45/ hour
+ 8 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.