Medical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a medical assistants in Missouri is $40,440/year ($19.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $45,454 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 39.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Missouri?
About medical assistants
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for medical assistants in Missouri runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,097/month, which is 39.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for medical assistantss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level medical assistants (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Assistants salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $45K | +12% | 4,220 |
| St. Louis | $45K | +11% | 6,170 |
| Columbia | $41K | +2% | 380 |
| St. Joseph | $40K | -0% | 270 |
| Jefferson City | $38K | -5% | 280 |
| Springfield | $38K | -6% | 1,600 |
| Cape Girardeau | $37K | -7% | 350 |
| Joplin | $37K | -8% | 440 |
Compare to other states
Track medical assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a medical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 39.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical assistants in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical assistants typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,149/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical assistant a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $40K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for medical assistants?
Missouri pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do medical assistants make in Missouri?
The median is $40,440 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,810, and experienced medical assistants can clear $48,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,784/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 39.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a medical assistants salary go in Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median medical assistants salary is worth about $45,454 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.