TN · Kingsport · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Kingsport, TN

The median medical assistant pay in the Kingsport area is $17.65 per hour ($36,700 a year), with the typical range running from $17.17 to $18.79. That ranks 318th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 191st of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Kingsport. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Kingsport.

Medical Assistant pay in Kingsport, TN

The metro median is 4% below the Tennessee statewide median of $18.34 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 650 medical assistants employed in the Kingsport-Bristol metro area, 5.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.07).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$15.19$31,60029% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.17$35,71019% below U.S. median
Median$17.65$36,70017% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$18.79$39,08012% below U.S. median
Top 10%$21.43$44,5701% above U.S. median

How Kingsport ranks

  • 318th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 191st of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 8th 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 Kingsport

  • Overall prices in Kingsport-Bristol run 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 44% below the U.S. average (index 56.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $17.65 median hour buys what $20.42 buys at the national price level, 4% 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.

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

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Estimate your Kingsport paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$635
  • Per year: $31,770
  • Per month: $2,648
  • Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Kingsport-Bristol metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Kingsport

ItemFederal 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 Kingsport as they open.

All Medical Assistant jobs in Tennessee

Hospitals in Kingsport

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Kingsport, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center
Kingsport, TN
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Indian Path Community Hospital
Kingsport, TN
Acute careNonprofitNot ratedYes
Creekside Behavioral Health
Kingsport, TN
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Sullivan County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Sullivan 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Johnson City, TN15 mi$17.74/hr73,635
Asheville, NC66 mi$19.19/hr94,992
Knoxville, TN87 mi$18.41/hr198,722
Mooresville, NC116 mi$21.79/hr52,884
Gastonia, NC116 mi$21.79/hr85,535
Greenville, SC117 mi$18.85/hr74,371

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.

Tennessee state guide

Other healthcare roles in Kingsport

Kingsport city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Kingsport, TN?

Medical Assistants in the Kingsport-Bristol metro area have a median pay of $17.65 per hour, about $36,700 a year. The middle half earn between $17.17 and $18.79 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Kingsport-Bristol ranks 191st of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 318th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in Kingsport?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Kingsport, led by Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Kingsport 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 Kingsport in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Sullivan 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 Kingsport?

The federal per diem benchmark in Kingsport 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 Kingsport?

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

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Pay report · Medical Assistant near Kingsport, TN
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

  1. Certified Medical AssistantPer diem
    $18.96–$26.78/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN · posted 3 days ago
  2. Certified Medical Assistant-Xray LimitedPermanent
    $19.44–$27.45/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN · posted 7 days ago

+ 8 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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