PayByState

Mississippi · BLS SOC 31-9092

Medical Assistant salary in Mississippi

Median $35,280 · Top 10% earn $42,660+ · Roughly 6,876 workers in Mississippi. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Mississippi median
$35,280
$16.96/hr
Top 10%
$42,660
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$26,250
Entry-level range
Real pay
$41,555
CoL-adjusted (RPP 84.9)

Mississippi pays meaningfully below the U.S. median for medical assistants — $35,280 versus the national median of $42,000. Mississippi's lower cost of living partially offsets the lower nominal pay, but real purchasing power is still below national average. The state employs roughly 6,876 medical assistants.

What drives medical assistant pay in Mississippi

Mississippi 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.

Mississippi ranks #51 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Mississippi
#50 Arkansas $35,700 +$420
#49 West Virginia $36,120 +$840
#48 Alabama $36,120 +$840
#51 Mississippi (this page) $35,280 —
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Mississippi

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 Mississippi median of $35,280, 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 Mississippi selected.

Medical Assistant salary in Mississippi — FAQ

What is the average medical assistant salary in Mississippi?
The median medical assistant salary in Mississippi is $35,280 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $26,250; the top 10% earn $42,660 or more. About 6,876 people work in this role across the state.
How does Mississippi medical assistant pay compare to the national average?
Mississippi's median of $35,280 is $6,720 below the U.S. national median of $42,000. After adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 84.9), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $41,555.
Is medical assistant a good career in Mississippi?
On the data: Mississippi employs roughly 6,876 medical assistants, with a median wage of $35,280 and the top decile clearing $42,660. 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 Mississippi?
At the Mississippi median of $35,280 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $16.96/hr. The top 10% earn around $20.51/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $12.62/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Mississippi-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 Mississippi's RPP is 84.9 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.