Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary in Tennessee
Medical secretaries and administrative assistants in Tennessee earned a median of $39,940 a year ($19.20 an hour) and a mean of $42,870 in May 2025. The median is 13.0% below the U.S. median of $45,930, ranking 44th of 54 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $39,940
- Median hourly
- $19.20
- Mean annual
- $42,870
- Jobs on record
- 41,810
Grey needle: U.S. median, $45,930 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Tennessee compare on pay for medical secretaries and administrative assistants?
Tennessee ranks 44th of 54 states and territories. Washington is highest at $58,100, $18,160 more than the Tennessee median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 42 | $40,980 | -11% | 10,560 |
| South Carolina | 43 | $40,170 | -13% | 15,630 |
| Tennessee | 44 | $39,940 | -13% | 41,810 |
| Kentucky | 45 | $38,750 | -16% | 26,430 |
| West Virginia | 46 | $38,430 | -16% | 1,550 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 54 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Tennessee pay go further after prices?
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the U.S. average, so the $39,940 median buys about what $43,474 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $45,930 U.S. median. On this measure Tennessee ranks 42nd of 51, up from 44th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Tennessee pay medical secretaries and administrative assistants the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN is highest at $45,570, 14.1% above the Tennessee median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $45,570 | 12,970 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $39,940 | 7,180 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $38,640 | 3,590 |
| Cleveland, TN | $38,580 | 510 |
| Knoxville, TN | $38,420 | 6,280 |
| Jackson, TN | $38,100 | 1,080 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,480 | 1,220 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,470 | 1,360 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $37,380 | 1,130 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,230 | 1,720 |
| Morristown, TN | $36,860 | 560 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,800 | 1,600 |
| Johnson City, TN | $36,570 | 1,580 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | 1,120 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Tennessee is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many medical secretaries and administrative assistants work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 41,810 jobs in Tennessee, 4.3% of the 961,610 in the U.S. That is the 6th largest count among the 53 states and territories with a published figure. That is 12.8 of every 1,000 jobs in Tennessee, a location quotient of 2.06: the occupation's share of local jobs is 2.06 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Tennessee
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.