TX · Odessa · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in Odessa, TX

Pay for medical assistants in the Odessa area centers on $17.56 per hour, or about $36,530 a year. The lower quarter earns under $16.82 and the upper quarter over $21.33. That ranks 325th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 326th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Odessa. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Odessa.

Medical Assistant pay in Odessa, TX

The metro median is 6% below the Texas statewide median of $18.71 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 250 medical assistants employed in the Odessa metro area, 3.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.61).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.50$34,32022% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$16.82$34,99021% below U.S. median
Median$17.56$36,53017% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.33$44,370in line with U.S. median
Top 10%$22.84$47,5107% above U.S. median

How Odessa ranks

  • 325th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 326th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 16th of 24 Texas 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 Odessa

  • Overall prices in Odessa run 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 10% below the U.S. average (index 89.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $17.56 median hour buys what $18.70 buys at the national price level, 12% 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 Odessa, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Odessa paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$632
  • Per year: $31,608
  • Per month: $2,634
  • Texas has no state income tax on wages.

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

Travel assignment per diem in Odessa

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$128
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,414
13-week assignment$18,382

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 Texas

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

All Medical Assistant jobs in Texas

Hospitals in Odessa

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Odessa, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Medical Center Hospital
Odessa, TX
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Odessa Regional Medical Center
Odessa, TX
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Ector County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Ector County (1 geographic, 1 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
Midland, TX17 mi$20.61/hr143,687
San Angelo, TX115 mi$17.36/hr100,159
Lubbock, TX119 mi$17.35/hr272,086
Abilene, TX158 mi$17.73/hr130,501
El Paso, TX240 mi$17.52/hr681,723
Las Cruces, NM262 mi$17.54/hr116,998

Medical Assistant jobs in Texas · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Texas

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

Texas 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.

Texas state guide

Other healthcare roles in Odessa

Odessa city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in Odessa, TX?

Medical Assistants in the Odessa metro area have a median pay of $17.56 per hour, about $36,530 a year. The middle half earn between $16.82 and $21.33 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Odessa ranks 326th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 325th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in Odessa?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Odessa, led by Medical Center Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Texas license to work in Odessa as a medical assistant?

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

Is Odessa in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Ector 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 Odessa?

The federal per diem benchmark in Odessa is $128 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,414 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Odessa?

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

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

Your Medical Assistant pay reportOdessa, TX · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • CommonSpirit HealthBRYAN, TX · 8 postings$21.11/ hr$16–$25
  • Semihan Chiropractic Clinic, Inc.Lewisville, TX · 1 wage offer$18.70/ hr$19–$19
  • Celebrity Spine & Joint, LLCHouston, TX · 1 wage offer$17.09/ hr$17–$17
  • Awesome CareRichardson, TX · 1 wage offer$15.82/ hr$16–$16

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

2What they are offering now

Low$16Median$21.11High$25

8 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in Texas, 6 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 8 Medical Assistant roles

  1. Certified Medical AssistantPermanent
    $16.06–$22.69/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Bryan, TX · posted yesterday
  2. Certified Medical AssistantPermanent
    $17.71–$25.02/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · The Woodlands, TX · posted 9 days ago

+ 6 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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