Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary in Tennessee
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in Tennessee have a median of $39,940 a year, below the national $45,930 (−13%); the state ranks 44th of 51 states by median. That is 16% less than the median across all occupations in Tennessee ($47,380). Among neighbouring states, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri and Georgia pay more (up to $46,180 in Virginia) and Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi pay less (down to $36,290 in Mississippi). Tennessee employs 41,810 medical secretaries and administrative assistants, 12.8 per 1,000 jobs, the 6th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 2.06 means the occupation is more concentrated in Tennessee than nationally.
Tennessee vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $15.37 | $17.46 | $19.20 | $22.46 | $27.73 | $20.61 | 41,810 | 12.75 | 2.06 |
| Annual | $31,960 | $36,320 | $39,940 | $46,730 | $57,670 | $42,870 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.27 | $18.54 | $22.08 | $24.32 | $29.10 | $22.50 | 961,610 | – | – |
| Annual | $35,930 | $38,570 | $45,930 | $50,580 | $60,530 | $46,800 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 44th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 6th of 50 states
- Location quotient
- 2.06
- Jobs per 1,000
- 12.75
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Tennessee's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Tennessee
10 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Tennessee publish a row for medical secretaries and administrative assistants, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $21.91 | $45,570 | $36,500 | $59,260 | 12,970 | 11.80 | 1.91 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $19.20 | $39,940 | $34,050 | $58,110 | 7,180 | 11.75 | 1.90 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $18.58 | $38,640 | $31,490 | $56,890 | 3,590 | 13.37 | 2.16 |
| Cleveland, TN | $18.55 | $38,580 | $30,560 | $53,240 | 510 | 11.87 | 1.92 |
| Knoxville, TN | $18.47 | $38,420 | $31,750 | $58,120 | 6,280 | 14.79 | 2.39 |
| Jackson, TN | $18.32 | $38,100 | $29,790 | $55,430 | 1,080 | 12.82 | 2.07 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $17.97 | $37,380 | $30,150 | $49,200 | 1,130 | 10.92 | 1.77 |
| Morristown, TN | $17.72 | $36,860 | $30,480 | $50,770 | 560 | 11.86 | 1.92 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $17.69 | $36,800 | $31,140 | $51,970 | 1,600 | 13.35 | 2.16 |
| Johnson City, TN | $17.58 | $36,570 | $30,450 | $47,130 | 1,580 | 19.30 | 3.12 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $18.02 | $37,480 | $29,930 | $50,240 | 1,220 | 10.41 | 1.68 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $18.02 | $37,470 | $29,340 | $56,520 | 1,360 | 12.39 | 2.00 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $17.90 | $37,230 | $30,270 | $54,600 | 1,720 | 14.96 | 2.42 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $17.42 | $36,230 | $29,810 | $49,290 | 1,120 | 7.97 | 1.29 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $19.20 | $39,940 | 41,810 | 2.06 |
| Alabama | $17.76 | $36,930 | 16,580 | 1.27 |
| Arkansas | $17.79 | $37,000 | 2,190 | 0.27 |
| Georgia | $20.75 | $43,160 | 39,380 | 1.30 |
| Kentucky | $18.63 | $38,750 | 26,430 | 2.14 |
| Missouri | $21.14 | $43,980 | 12,260 | 0.68 |
| Mississippi | $17.45 | $36,290 | ** | ** |
| North Carolina | $21.24 | $44,190 | 56,840 | 1.86 |
| Virginia | $22.20 | $46,180 | 27,600 | 1.09 |
See the national page for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (every state ranked) and the Tennessee wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Tennessee estimates.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.