Medical Assistant Salary in Hot Springs, AR: $38,419 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical assistant in Hot Springs, AR earns a median $38,419/year (≈ $18.47/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9092). Once you factor in Hot Springs's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.7), that paycheck buys what $44,814 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.1% below the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Hot Springs, Arkansas, the projected median annual salary for a medical assistant is $38,419, reflecting a notable disparity when compared to the national median of $47,961. Local salaries range from a lower end of $32,005 at the 10th percentile to a higher end of $50,228 at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys projected to 2026, indicates that while medical assistant pay in Hot Springs may lag behind national trends, it can vary widely based on factors such as the type of practice and demand for bilingual skills, which are increasingly sought after in a diverse market like this. The job outlook remains positive, with a projected annual growth rate of 4.97%, suggesting continued opportunities for professionals in this field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $32,005 | $15.39 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37,359 | $17.96 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $38,419 | $18.47 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $47,772 | $22.97 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50,228 | $24.15 |
Median Salary Position
19.9% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Hot Springs
In Hot Springs, AR, the medical assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $18,223 (2026 est.). At $38,419, the local median is 19.9% below the national median of $47,961.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Hot Springs: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Hot Springs Medical Assistant Pay Compares
Hot Springs median: $38,419/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Hot Springs Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $39,243 | -2.10% less |
| National Average | $47,961 | -19.90% less |
Medical Assistants in Hot Springs, AR earn a median of $38,419 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.90% lower than the national median of $47,961 and 2.10% below the Arkansas state average of $39,243.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Hot Springs has a cost of living 14.27% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Hot Springs, AR has a cost-of-living index of 85.73 (below the national average of 100). A medical assistant earning $38,419 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $44,814 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.65% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$30,440
2025 BLS Actual
$36,600
2026 Current Est.
$38,419
2019–2027 Growth
+32.5%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Hot Springs (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $30,440 | Actual |
| 2020 | $30,770 | Actual |
| 2021 | $29,900 | Actual |
| 2022 | $30,500 | Actual |
| 2023 | $31,100 | Actual |
| 2024 | $36,810 | Actual |
| 2025 | $36,600 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $38,419 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $40,328 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hot Springs metropolitan area, the median medical assistant salary grew 20.2% from $30,440 (2019) to $36,600 (2025). At a 4.97% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $40,328 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,888 (32.48%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hot Springs metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.97% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $32,005 – $37,359 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $37,359 – $38,419 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $38,419 – $47,772 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $47,772 – $50,228 |
MA, CMA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Assistant Job Market in Hot Springs
Examining the local job market reveals that approximately 260 medical assistants are currently employed in Hot Springs, reinforcing the sector's stability. With a cost of living index of 85.73, the affordability of living in Hot Springs adds to the practical value of medical assistant salaries in the region. Employers that tend to offer competitive salaries include urgent care chains like CityMD and MedExpress, as well as specialty practices in cardiology, orthopedics, and dermatology, where pay scales can be higher due to specialized skill requirements. Factors influencing compensation range from bilingual premiums—particularly in Spanish and Mandarin—to advanced certifications such as phlebotomy and EKG. For those aspiring to maximize their income, seeking roles in higher-paying specialty fields and obtaining additional certifications can be effective strategies within the Hot Springs AR market. Understanding these dynamics can significantly impact how much do medical assistants make in Hot Springs, guiding both career choices and negotiation tactics.
More salary data for Hot Springs, AR:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Emma Chen, CMA
Career Analyst
Emma has over 8 years of experience as a medical assistant. She has worked in both outpatient clinics and hospitals. Her expertise includes patient care and administrative support.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $36,600 for medical assistantsin the Hot Springs metropolitan area. A 4.97% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.97%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for medical assistants (SOC 31-9092).
Compiled and verified by Emma Chen, CMA, a licensed medical assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov