PayByState

Arkansas · BLS SOC 31-9092

Medical Assistant salary in Arkansas

Median $35,700 · Top 10% earn $43,370+ · Roughly 7,640 workers in Arkansas. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Arkansas median
$35,700
$17.16/hr
Top 10%
$43,370
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$26,560
Entry-level range
Real pay
$41,319
CoL-adjusted (RPP 86.4)

Arkansas pays meaningfully below the U.S. median for medical assistants — $35,700 versus the national median of $42,000. Arkansas's lower cost of living partially offsets the lower nominal pay, but real purchasing power is still below national average. The state employs roughly 7,640 medical assistants.

What drives medical assistant pay in Arkansas

Arkansas sits in the bottom quartile of U.S. medical assistant pay. Lower nominal wages typically reflect rural-area service delivery, smaller hospital systems, and less-dense union or specialty employer presence — partially offset by a lower cost of living.

Arkansas ranks #50 of 50 states

Where Arkansas sits in the national distribution for medical assistant pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. Arkansas
#49 West Virginia $36,120 +$420
#48 Alabama $36,120 +$420
#47 Louisiana $36,960 +$1,260
#50 Arkansas (this page) $35,700 —
#51 Mississippi $35,280 −$420
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Arkansas

The typical path is a postsecondary nondegree certificate (most common); some on-the-job, taking about 9 months. Tuition ranges from $1,200 (community college) to $18,000 (private accelerated). On the Arkansas median of $35,700, payback periods are typically 3.6 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Medical Assistant salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with Arkansas selected.

Medical Assistant salary in Arkansas — FAQ

What is the average medical assistant salary in Arkansas?
The median medical assistant salary in Arkansas is $35,700 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $26,560; the top 10% earn $43,370 or more. About 7,640 people work in this role across the state.
How does Arkansas medical assistant pay compare to the national average?
Arkansas's median of $35,700 is $6,300 below the U.S. national median of $42,000. After adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 86.4), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $41,319.
Is medical assistant a good career in Arkansas?
On the data: Arkansas employs roughly 7,640 medical assistants, with a median wage of $35,700 and the top decile clearing $43,370. The role is projected to grow +14% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for medical assistants in Arkansas?
At the Arkansas median of $35,700 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $17.16/hr. The top 10% earn around $20.85/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $12.77/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Arkansas-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 31-9092: Medical Assistants), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where Arkansas's RPP is 86.4 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.