PayByState

Kentucky · BLS SOC 31-9092

Medical Assistant salary in Kentucky

Median $37,380 · Top 10% earn $46,260+ · Roughly 10,696 workers in Kentucky. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Kentucky median
$37,380
$17.97/hr
Top 10%
$46,260
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$27,810
Entry-level range
Real pay
$42,477
CoL-adjusted (RPP 88.0)

Kentucky pays modestly below the U.S. median for medical assistants — $37,380 versus the national median of $42,000. Kentucky's lower cost of living means the salary stretches further — real purchasing power is about $477 above the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 10,696 medical assistants.

What drives medical assistant pay in Kentucky

Kentucky pays close to the U.S. median for medical assistants. The state's pay landscape reflects typical national patterns — hospital and academic medical center roles paying above private practice, specialty credentials adding meaningful premiums, and metropolitan areas paying above rural ones.

Kentucky ranks #46 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Kentucky
#43 Tennessee $38,220 +$840
#42 Idaho $38,220 +$840
#41 Missouri $38,220 +$840
#46 Kentucky (this page) $37,380 —
#47 Louisiana $36,960 −$420
#48 Alabama $36,120 −$1,260
#49 West Virginia $36,120 −$1,260
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Education path for Kentucky

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 Kentucky median of $37,380, payback periods are typically 3.3 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 Kentucky selected.

Medical Assistant salary in Kentucky — FAQ

What is the average medical assistant salary in Kentucky?
The median medical assistant salary in Kentucky is $37,380 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $27,810; the top 10% earn $46,260 or more. About 10,696 people work in this role across the state.
How does Kentucky medical assistant pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky's median of $37,380 is $4,620 below the U.S. national median of $42,000. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 88.0), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $42,477.
Is medical assistant a good career in Kentucky?
On the data: Kentucky employs roughly 10,696 medical assistants, with a median wage of $37,380 and the top decile clearing $46,260. 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 Kentucky?
At the Kentucky median of $37,380 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $17.97/hr. The top 10% earn around $22.24/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $13.37/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Kentucky-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 Kentucky's RPP is 88.0 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.