Medical Assistant Salary in Little Rock, AR: $40,004 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical assistant in Little Rock, AR earns a median $40,004/year (≈ $19.23/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9092). Once you factor in Little Rock's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.4), that paycheck buys what $44,765 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.0% above the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, medical assistants in Little Rock, Arkansas, can expect a median annual salary of $40,004, which is significantly lower than the national median of $47,961. The salary range for this role varies from $33,108 at the 10th percentile to $49,073 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the diversity of compensation within the field. Medical assistants working in specialty practices such as dermatology, orthopedics, and plastics tend to earn higher salaries, often benefiting from a premium of 20-40% compared to those in primary care settings. These figures are derived from comprehensive surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which highlight the differences in pay based on specialty and practice type within the Little Rock job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $33,108 | $15.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38,367 | $18.44 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $40,004 | $19.23 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $45,484 | $21.87 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $49,073 | $23.60 |
Median Salary Position
16.59% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Little Rock
In Little Rock, AR, the medical assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $15,965 (2026 est.). At $40,004, the local median is 16.59% below the national median of $47,961.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Little Rock: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Little Rock Medical Assistant Pay Compares
Little Rock median: $40,004/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Little Rock Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $39,220 | +2.00% more |
| National Average | $47,961 | -16.59% less |
Medical Assistants in Little Rock, AR earn a median of $40,004 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.59% lower than the national median of $47,961 and 2.00% above the Arkansas state average of $39,220.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Little Rock has a cost of living 10.64% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Little Rock, AR has a cost-of-living index of 89.364 (below the national average of 100). A medical assistant earning $40,004 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $44,765 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.9% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$32,710
2025 BLS Actual
$38,110
2026 Current Est.
$40,004
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Little Rock (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $32,710 | Actual |
| 2020 | $33,120 | Actual |
| 2021 | $30,370 | Actual |
| 2022 | $34,090 | Actual |
| 2023 | $34,780 | Actual |
| 2024 | $38,120 | Actual |
| 2025 | $38,110 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $40,004 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $41,992 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Little Rock metropolitan area, the median medical assistant salary grew 16.5% from $32,710 (2019) to $38,110 (2025). At a 4.97% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $41,992 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,282 (28.38%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Little Rock 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) | $33,108 – $38,367 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $38,367 – $40,004 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $40,004 – $45,484 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $45,484 – $49,073 |
MA, CMA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Assistant Job Market in Little Rock
The local employment landscape for medical assistants in Little Rock shows a healthy demand, with approximately 1,660 professionals currently employed in the area. The cost-of-living index, sitting at 89.364, suggests that salaries here go further than in many other regions, potentially enhancing take-home purchasing power. Employers offering the most competitive compensation often include specialty practices, urgent care chains, and hospital outpatient clinics. The disparity in earnings can largely be attributed to specialty premiums, experience, certifications, and specific skills, such as bilingual capabilities that often command higher pay. For those looking to maximize their medical assistant pay in Little Rock AR, pursuing certifications from bodies like AAMA or AMT while considering roles in urgent care facilities could be beneficial strategies.
More salary data for Little Rock, 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 $38,110 for medical assistantsin the Little Rock 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