Medical Assistant Salary in Grand Island, NE: $42,376 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical assistant in Grand Island, NE earns a median $42,376/year (≈ $20.37/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9092). Once you factor in Grand Island's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 86.7), that paycheck buys what $48,901 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.4% below the Nebraska state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the medical assistant salary in Grand Island is projected to reach a median annual figure of $42,376. This amount reflects a notable contrast with the national median of $47,961, highlighting a pay gap that is roughly 11.64% lower. The local salary range is from $40,235 at the 10th percentile to $56,999 at the 90th percentile, suggesting that while entry-level positions may offer modest compensation, experienced medical assistants, particularly in specialty practices such as dermatology and orthopedics, can command significantly higher salaries. This data originates from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, offering insights into the local job market dynamics and emphasizing the variation in compensation relative to practice type within the Grand Island area.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40,235 | $19.35 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40,235 | $19.35 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $42,376 | $20.37 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $49,420 | $23.75 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $56,999 | $27.41 |
Median Salary Position
11.64% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Grand Island
In Grand Island, NE, the medical assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $16,764 (2026 est.). At $42,376, the local median is 11.64% below the national median of $47,961.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Grand Island: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Grand Island Medical Assistant Pay Compares
Grand Island median: $42,376/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Grand Island Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Average | $43,868 | -3.40% less |
| National Average | $47,961 | -11.64% less |
Medical Assistants in Grand Island, NE earn a median of $42,376 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.64% lower than the national median of $47,961 and 3.40% below the Nebraska state average of $43,868.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Grand Island has a cost of living 13.34% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Grand Island, NE has a cost-of-living index of 86.657 (below the national average of 100). A medical assistant earning $42,376 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $48,901 in an average-cost city — an effective 15.4% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$30,500
2025 BLS Actual
$40,370
2026 Current Est.
$42,376
2019–2027 Growth
+45.8%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Grand Island (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $30,500 | Actual |
| 2020 | $34,960 | Actual |
| 2021 | $30,320 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,050 | Actual |
| 2023 | $36,560 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,300 | Actual |
| 2025 | $40,370 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $42,376 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $44,482 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Grand Island metropolitan area, the median medical assistant salary grew 32.4% from $30,500 (2019) to $40,370 (2025). At a 4.97% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $44,482 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,982 (45.84%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Grand Island 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) | $40,235 – $40,235 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $40,235 – $42,376 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $42,376 – $49,420 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $49,420 – $56,999 |
MA, CMA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Assistant Job Market in Grand Island
Employers in Grand Island's healthcare sector, including primary care offices, specialty practices, and urgent care centers, offer varying compensation levels that shape the local medical assistant pay in Grand Island, NE. Currently, around 100 medical assistants are employed in the area, underscoring a stable job market despite a low cost-of-living index of 86.657, which allows for relatively better take-home pay. Specialty practices often pay more compared to primary care facilities, driven by the demand for skills required in high-stakes environments like cardiology or OB-GYN. Additionally, factors such as bilingual abilities, certifications in phlebotomy and EKG, and taking on lead roles can further elevate earnings. Aspiring medical assistants in Grand Island should consider pursuing relevant certifications and seeking roles in specialty practices or acute care environments to optimize their earning potential in a competitive job market.
More salary data for Grand Island, NE:
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 $40,370 for medical assistantsin the Grand Island 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