TN · Knoxville · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Knoxville, TN

The median medical assistant pay in the Knoxville area is $18.41 per hour ($38,300 a year), with the typical range running from $17.43 to $20.28. That ranks 255th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 241st of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville. The free report below lists employers near Knoxville and what they pay.

More open Medical Assistant roles in Knoxville

3 more open roles from employers in Knoxville. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Medical Assistant pay in Knoxville, TN

The metro median is in line with the Tennessee statewide median of $18.34 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 2,790 medical assistants employed in the Knoxville metro area, 6.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.30).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$15.88$33,03025% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.43$36,25018% below U.S. median
Median$18.41$38,30013% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$20.28$42,1805% below U.S. median
Top 10%$22.27$46,3205% above U.S. median

How Knoxville ranks

  • 255th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 241st of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th 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.

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

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What your pay buys in Knoxville

  • Overall prices in Knoxville run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 17% below the U.S. average (index 82.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $18.41 median hour buys what $19.89 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.

Estimate your Knoxville paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$663
  • Per year: $33,138
  • Per month: $2,762
  • Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.

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

Travel assignment per diem in Knoxville

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$119
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,351
13-week assignment$17,563

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 Tennessee

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

All Medical Assistant jobs in Tennessee

Hospitals in Knoxville

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville, 1 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
University Health System, Inc
Knoxville, TN
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
Knoxville, TN
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Parkwest Medical Center
Knoxville, TN
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
East Tennessee Childrens Hospital
Knoxville, TN
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
East Tennessee Behavioral Health
Knoxville, TN
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Knoxville Center For Behavioral Medicine
Knoxville, TN
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Knox County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Knox County (1 population-group, 1 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Cleveland, TN75 mi$17.73/hr50,232
Asheville, NC83 mi$19.19/hr94,992
Kingsport, TN87 mi$17.65/hr57,109
Johnson City, TN91 mi$17.74/hr73,635
Chattanooga, TN96 mi$18.52/hr191,496
Greenville, SC119 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 Knoxville

Knoxville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Knoxville, TN?

Medical Assistants in the Knoxville metro area have a median pay of $18.41 per hour, about $38,300 a year. The middle half earn between $17.43 and $20.28 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Knoxville ranks 241st of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 255th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in Knoxville?

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville, led by University Health System, Inc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

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

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Knox 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 Knoxville?

The federal per diem benchmark in Knoxville is $119 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,351 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Knoxville?

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

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What do employers near Knoxville pay medical assistants? Get the report.

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  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.

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Pay report · Medical Assistant near Knoxville, 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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