Missouri’s healthcare trifecta—a growing population, a rising senior population, and a rising prevalence of chronic conditions—has resulted in consistent growth in the medical assisting profession and great opportunities in the coming years.
According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, there were 10,490 medical assistants working in the state in 2019; by 2021, this number is projected to swell to 10,820 – an increase of 3.1% in just two years.
Medical assistants in Missouri earned an average, hourly wage of $15.94, or $33,160 a year, according to 2019 numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For those with a handful of years of experience and a professional certification on their resume, average hourly wages trend toward $20.25, or $42,130 annually.
Average Hourly Wages for Medical Assistants in Missouri’s Metro Areas
The metro areas of both St. Louis and Kansas City are powerhouses for professional opportunities and earning power for medical assistants.
The following BLS stats reveal the median – top 10% hourly wage range for medical assistants in Missouri’s largest metro areas:
- Columbia: $15.14 – $19.98 (approximately 240 medical assistants)
- Jefferson City: $14.23 – $19.20 (approximately 230 medical assistants)
- Joplin: $14.03 – $18.94 (approximately 260 medical assistants)
- Kansas City (KS-MO): $16.70 – $22.27 (approximately 4,260 medical assistants)
- Springfield: $13.31 – $17.76 (approximately 820 medical assistants)
- Louis (MO-IL): $16.45 – $20.49 (approximately 5,890 medical assistants)
Average Salaries for Medical Assistants in Missouri’s Metro Areas
BLS stats indicate what medical assistants are earning in the median – top 10% salary range in Missouri’s largest metro areas:
- Columbia: $31,490 – $41,560
- Jefferson City: $29,600 – $39,940
- Joplin: $29,190 – $39,400
- Kansas City (KS-MO): $34,740 – $46,330
- Springfield: $27,680 – $36,940
- Louis (MO-IL): $34,210 – $42,620
US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for medical assistants represents state data not school-specific information.
2019 job growth projections from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center are aggregated through the U.S. Department of Labor-Sponsored resource, Projections Central.
Conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and employment data accessed May 2020.