29 Series · SOC 29-1071
Physician Assistants Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $135,880
- Median / year
- $190,280
- Top 10% earn
- +20.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 162,150
- US workers
Physician Assistants earn a median of $135,880 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $135,880, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $99,380 (10th percentile) to $190,280 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 162,150 US workers. New Jersey pays the most ($165,690), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Physician Assistants earn a median of $135,880, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 94% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #28 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 20.4% by 2033.
- $135,880
- Median annual wage
- Top 6%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #28 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New Jersey at $165,690. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071) pays a national median of $135,880 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $99,380 at the 10th percentile to $190,280 at the 90th, with a mean of $141,280 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 162,150 Americans work in this occupation across 51 reporting states and 465 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +20.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 12,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New Jersey pays the highest state median at $165,690, which is +22% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $223,640 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 162,150 jobs Median $135,880/yr
Median Salary
$135,880
per year
Median Hourly
$65.33/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$141,280
average
Employment
162,150
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Physician Assistants pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$135,880 Top 6% higher than 94% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Physician Assistants; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Physician Assistants sits on the faster-growing side at +20.4% growth and $135,880 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+20.4%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
12,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Master's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Physician Assistants roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.8
Monitoring 3.8
Speaking 3.6
Critical Thinking 3.6
Judgment and Decision Making 3.6
Active Learning 3.5
Operations Monitoring 3.4
Time Management 3.4
Service Orientation 3.3
Knowledge Areas
Medicine and Dentistry 4.1
English Language 4.0
Chemistry 3.6
Customer and Personal Service 3.6
Mathematics 3.6
Biology 3.5
Education and Training 3.4
Computers and Electronics 3.1
Mechanical 2.9
Public Safety and Security 2.9
Key Tasks
- ▸ Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
- ▸ Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
- ▸ Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- ▸ Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- ▸ Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
- ▸ Control anesthesia levels during procedures.
- ▸ Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
- ▸ Assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
- ▸ Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
- ▸ Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$99,380
25th Percentile
$120,670
Median
$135,880
75th Percentile
$163,980
90th Percentile
$190,280
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 51 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $165,690 | +22% above national |
| 2 | California | $165,650 | +22% above national |
| 3 | Washington | $164,360 | +21% above national |
| 4 | Hawaii | $164,050 | +21% above national |
| 5 | New York | $160,880 | +18% above national |
| 6 | Oregon | $155,780 | +15% above national |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $150,960 | +11% above national |
| 8 | Alaska | $150,700 | +11% above national |
| 9 | Vermont | $150,490 | +11% above national |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $142,410 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Montana | $141,470 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $141,190 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $139,930 | +3% above national |
| 14 | New Mexico | $139,920 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Connecticut | $139,860 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Delaware | $139,350 | +3% above national |
| 17 | Maryland | $137,560 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $136,550 | same as national |
| 19 | Wyoming | $136,080 | same as national |
| 20 | Virginia | $135,940 | same as national |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $135,140 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Missouri | $135,130 | 1% below national |
| 23 | Iowa | $134,770 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Utah | $134,740 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Nevada | $134,660 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Arizona | $134,650 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Texas | $134,550 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Colorado | $134,540 | 1% below national |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $133,950 | 1% below national |
| 30 | Idaho | $133,790 | 2% below national |
| 31 | North Dakota | $133,450 | 2% below national |
| 32 | South Dakota | $133,200 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Nebraska | $133,040 | 2% below national |
| 34 | Ohio | $132,090 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Indiana | $132,050 | 3% below national |
| 36 | Illinois | $131,950 | 3% below national |
| 37 | Michigan | $131,510 | 3% below national |
| 38 | Maine | $131,170 | 3% below national |
| 39 | Florida | $129,620 | 5% below national |
| 40 | North Carolina | $129,360 | 5% below national |
| 41 | Louisiana | $128,870 | 5% below national |
| 42 | West Virginia | $128,610 | 5% below national |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $127,070 | 6% below national |
| 44 | Kansas | $125,640 | 8% below national |
| 45 | South Carolina | $122,490 | 10% below national |
| 46 | Kentucky | $120,760 | 11% below national |
| 47 | Arkansas | $118,430 | 13% below national |
| 48 | Tennessee | $118,240 | 13% below national |
| 49 | Georgia | $115,390 | 15% below national |
| 50 | Mississippi | $105,920 | 22% below national |
| 51 | Alabama | $104,960 | 23% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 465 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $223,640 | +65% above national |
| 2 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $198,070 | +46% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $184,380 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Yuba City, CA | $183,460 | +35% above national |
| 5 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $181,760 | +34% above national |
| 6 | Vallejo, CA | $179,520 | +32% above national |
| 7 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $174,670 | +29% above national |
| 8 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $172,750 | +27% above national |
| 9 | Napa, CA | $172,170 | +27% above national |
| 10 | Salinas, CA | $170,180 | +25% above national |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $170,060 | +25% above national |
| 12 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $168,080 | +24% above national |
| 13 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $167,650 | +23% above national |
| 14 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $167,600 | +23% above national |
| 15 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $167,290 | +23% above national |
| 16 | Visalia, CA | $166,510 | +23% above national |
| 17 | Modesto, CA | $165,730 | +22% above national |
| 18 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $165,490 | +22% above national |
| 19 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $165,160 | +22% above national |
| 20 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $164,910 | +21% above national |
| 21 | Chico, CA | $164,780 | +21% above national |
| 22 | Merced, CA | $164,080 | +21% above national |
| 23 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $163,810 | +21% above national |
| 24 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $163,560 | +20% above national |
| 25 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $162,860 | +20% above national |
| 26 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $162,790 | +20% above national |
| 27 | Barnstable Town, MA | $162,330 | +19% above national |
| 28 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $162,110 | +19% above national |
| 29 | Walla Walla, WA | $161,980 | +19% above national |
| 30 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,890 | +19% above national |
| 31 | Springfield, MA | $161,770 | +19% above national |
| 32 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $161,470 | +19% above national |
| 33 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $161,470 | +19% above national |
| 34 | Bellingham, WA | $161,260 | +19% above national |
| 35 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $159,500 | +17% above national |
| 36 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $159,210 | +17% above national |
| 37 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $159,030 | +17% above national |
| 38 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $158,360 | +17% above national |
| 39 | Midland, TX | $158,200 | +16% above national |
| 40 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $156,990 | +16% above national |
| 41 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $156,850 | +15% above national |
| 42 | El Centro, CA | $156,730 | +15% above national |
| 43 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $156,000 | +15% above national |
| 44 | Fresno, CA | $155,440 | +14% above national |
| 45 | Medford, OR | $155,110 | +14% above national |
| 46 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $154,810 | +14% above national |
| 47 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $154,760 | +14% above national |
| 48 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $154,610 | +14% above national |
| 49 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $154,230 | +14% above national |
| 50 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $153,940 | +13% above national |
| 51 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $153,810 | +13% above national |
| 52 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $153,280 | +13% above national |
| 53 | Worcester, MA | $152,860 | +12% above national |
| 54 | Anchorage, AK | $152,710 | +12% above national |
| 55 | Grants Pass, OR | $152,350 | +12% above national |
| 56 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $151,840 | +12% above national |
| 57 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $150,910 | +11% above national |
| 58 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $150,590 | +11% above national |
| 59 | Kingston, NY | $150,470 | +11% above national |
| 60 | Joplin, MO-KS | $150,300 | +11% above national |
| 61 | Redding, CA | $150,010 | +10% above national |
| 62 | New Haven, CT | $149,960 | +10% above national |
| 63 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $149,260 | +10% above national |
| 64 | Bend, OR | $148,610 | +9% above national |
| 65 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $148,200 | +9% above national |
| 66 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $147,700 | +9% above national |
| 67 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $147,570 | +9% above national |
| 68 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $147,480 | +9% above national |
| 69 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $146,770 | +8% above national |
| 70 | Corvallis, OR | $146,710 | +8% above national |
| 71 | Binghamton, NY | $146,120 | +8% above national |
| 72 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $145,410 | +7% above national |
| 73 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $145,400 | +7% above national |
| 74 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $145,030 | +7% above national |
| 75 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $145,030 | +7% above national |
| 76 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $144,290 | +6% above national |
| 77 | Salem, OR | $144,190 | +6% above national |
| 78 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $143,710 | +6% above national |
| 79 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $143,510 | +6% above national |
| 80 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $143,070 | +5% above national |
| 81 | Greenville, NC | $142,950 | +5% above national |
| 82 | Farmington, NM | $142,890 | +5% above national |
| 83 | Salisbury, MD | $142,580 | +5% above national |
| 84 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $142,510 | +5% above national |
| 85 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $142,410 | +5% above national |
| 86 | Albany, OR | $142,220 | +5% above national |
| 87 | Mankato, MN | $142,020 | +5% above national |
| 88 | Bozeman, MT | $141,800 | +4% above national |
| 89 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $141,620 | +4% above national |
| 90 | Grand Island, NE | $141,590 | +4% above national |
| 91 | Billings, MT | $141,470 | +4% above national |
| 92 | Las Cruces, NM | $141,350 | +4% above national |
| 93 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $141,080 | +4% above national |
| 94 | Utica-Rome, NY | $140,300 | +3% above national |
| 95 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $140,220 | +3% above national |
| 96 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $140,200 | +3% above national |
| 97 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $140,160 | +3% above national |
| 98 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $140,160 | +3% above national |
| 99 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $140,100 | +3% above national |
| 100 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $140,030 | +3% above national |
| 101 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $139,950 | +3% above national |
| 102 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $139,930 | +3% above national |
| 103 | Albuquerque, NM | $139,920 | +3% above national |
| 104 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $139,740 | +3% above national |
| 105 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $139,670 | +3% above national |
| 106 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $139,310 | +3% above national |
| 107 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $139,210 | +2% above national |
| 108 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $139,050 | +2% above national |
| 109 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $139,050 | +2% above national |
| 110 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $139,010 | +2% above national |
| 111 | Ithaca, NY | $138,920 | +2% above national |
| 112 | Oklahoma City, OK | $138,920 | +2% above national |
| 113 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $138,880 | +2% above national |
| 114 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $138,790 | +2% above national |
| 115 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $138,720 | +2% above national |
| 116 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $138,680 | +2% above national |
| 117 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $138,460 | +2% above national |
| 118 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $138,450 | +2% above national |
| 119 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $138,400 | +2% above national |
| 120 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $138,310 | +2% above national |
| 121 | St. George, UT | $138,110 | +2% above national |
| 122 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $138,060 | +2% above national |
| 123 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $138,000 | +2% above national |
| 124 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $137,850 | +1% above national |
| 125 | Lebanon, PA | $137,770 | +1% above national |
| 126 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $137,740 | +1% above national |
| 127 | Pittsfield, MA | $137,620 | +1% above national |
| 128 | Columbus, OH | $137,550 | +1% above national |
| 129 | Elmira, NY | $137,550 | +1% above national |
| 130 | Lubbock, TX | $137,510 | +1% above national |
| 131 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $137,420 | +1% above national |
| 132 | Rochester, MN | $137,340 | +1% above national |
| 133 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $137,240 | +1% above national |
| 134 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $137,220 | +1% above national |
| 135 | Lexington Park, MD | $136,860 | +1% above national |
| 136 | Fond du Lac, WI | $136,700 | +1% above national |
| 137 | Fargo, ND-MN | $136,610 | +1% above national |
| 138 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $136,590 | +1% above national |
| 139 | Yakima, WA | $136,570 | +1% above national |
| 140 | Boulder, CO | $136,540 | same as national |
| 141 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $136,410 | same as national |
| 142 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $136,120 | same as national |
| 143 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $136,080 | same as national |
| 144 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $135,960 | same as national |
| 145 | Roanoke, VA | $135,940 | same as national |
| 146 | Ogden, UT | $135,930 | same as national |
| 147 | Cleveland, OH | $135,860 | same as national |
| 148 | Duluth, MN-WI | $135,860 | same as national |
| 149 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $135,830 | same as national |
| 150 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $135,810 | same as national |
| 151 | Kenosha, WI | $135,800 | same as national |
| 152 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $135,790 | same as national |
| 153 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $135,790 | same as national |
| 154 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $135,640 | same as national |
| 155 | Pueblo, CO | $135,640 | same as national |
| 156 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $135,630 | same as national |
| 157 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $135,620 | same as national |
| 158 | Flagstaff, AZ | $135,600 | same as national |
| 159 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $135,560 | same as national |
| 160 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $135,430 | same as national |
| 161 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $135,370 | same as national |
| 162 | Jefferson City, MO | $135,340 | same as national |
| 163 | Ann Arbor, MI | $135,310 | same as national |
| 164 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $135,240 | same as national |
| 165 | Colorado Springs, CO | $135,200 | 1% below national |
| 166 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $135,200 | 1% below national |
| 167 | Carson City, NV | $135,180 | 1% below national |
| 168 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $135,040 | 1% below national |
| 169 | Twin Falls, ID | $135,010 | 1% below national |
| 170 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $135,000 | 1% below national |
| 171 | Missoula, MT | $134,990 | 1% below national |
| 172 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $134,960 | 1% below national |
| 173 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $134,900 | 1% below national |
| 174 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $134,860 | 1% below national |
| 175 | Boise City, ID | $134,800 | 1% below national |
| 176 | Iowa City, IA | $134,770 | 1% below national |
| 177 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $134,660 | 1% below national |
| 178 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $134,650 | 1% below national |
| 179 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $134,630 | 1% below national |
| 180 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $134,550 | 1% below national |
| 181 | Greeley, CO | $134,550 | 1% below national |
| 182 | Lafayette, LA | $134,550 | 1% below national |
| 183 | Reno, NV | $134,550 | 1% below national |
| 184 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $134,540 | 1% below national |
| 185 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $134,490 | 1% below national |
| 186 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $134,440 | 1% below national |
| 187 | Tulsa, OK | $134,380 | 1% below national |
| 188 | Corpus Christi, TX | $134,360 | 1% below national |
| 189 | Sheboygan, WI | $134,360 | 1% below national |
| 190 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $134,320 | 1% below national |
| 191 | Fayetteville, NC | $134,300 | 1% below national |
| 192 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $134,290 | 1% below national |
| 193 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $134,260 | 1% below national |
| 194 | Traverse City, MI | $134,180 | 1% below national |
| 195 | Omaha, NE-IA | $134,130 | 1% below national |
| 196 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $134,120 | 1% below national |
| 197 | Minot, ND | $134,090 | 1% below national |
| 198 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $134,090 | 1% below national |
| 199 | Helena, MT | $134,030 | 1% below national |
| 200 | Madison, WI | $133,950 | 1% below national |
| 201 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $133,850 | 1% below national |
| 202 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $133,830 | 2% below national |
| 203 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $133,810 | 2% below national |
| 204 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $133,810 | 2% below national |
| 205 | Springfield, IL | $133,750 | 2% below national |
| 206 | Charlottesville, VA | $133,540 | 2% below national |
| 207 | Tyler, TX | $133,460 | 2% below national |
| 208 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $133,450 | 2% below national |
| 209 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $133,350 | 2% below national |
| 210 | Yuma, AZ | $133,290 | 2% below national |
| 211 | Peoria, IL | $133,170 | 2% below national |
| 212 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $133,140 | 2% below national |
| 213 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $133,060 | 2% below national |
| 214 | Syracuse, NY | $133,000 | 2% below national |
| 215 | Amarillo, TX | $132,990 | 2% below national |
| 216 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $132,920 | 2% below national |
| 217 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $132,880 | 2% below national |
| 218 | Great Falls, MT | $132,740 | 2% below national |
| 219 | Alexandria, LA | $132,710 | 2% below national |
| 220 | Glens Falls, NY | $132,700 | 2% below national |
| 221 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $132,670 | 2% below national |
| 222 | St. Cloud, MN | $132,650 | 2% below national |
| 223 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $132,360 | 3% below national |
| 224 | Jacksonville, FL | $132,350 | 3% below national |
| 225 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $132,310 | 3% below national |
| 226 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $132,230 | 3% below national |
| 227 | Columbia, MO | $132,220 | 3% below national |
| 228 | Lawton, OK | $132,220 | 3% below national |
| 229 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $132,210 | 3% below national |
| 230 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $131,950 | 3% below national |
| 231 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $131,930 | 3% below national |
| 232 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $131,930 | 3% below national |
| 233 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $131,870 | 3% below national |
| 234 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $131,830 | 3% below national |
| 235 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $131,770 | 3% below national |
| 236 | Beckley, WV | $131,750 | 3% below national |
| 237 | Toledo, OH | $131,730 | 3% below national |
| 238 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $131,730 | 3% below national |
| 239 | Green Bay, WI | $131,720 | 3% below national |
| 240 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $131,710 | 3% below national |
| 241 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $131,700 | 3% below national |
| 242 | Fort Wayne, IN | $131,400 | 3% below national |
| 243 | Wilmington, NC | $131,270 | 3% below national |
| 244 | Asheville, NC | $131,260 | 3% below national |
| 245 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $131,260 | 3% below national |
| 246 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $131,180 | 3% below national |
| 247 | Waco, TX | $131,000 | 4% below national |
| 248 | Akron, OH | $130,980 | 4% below national |
| 249 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $130,970 | 4% below national |
| 250 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $130,970 | 4% below national |
| 251 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $130,930 | 4% below national |
| 252 | Battle Creek, MI | $130,870 | 4% below national |
| 253 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $130,830 | 4% below national |
| 254 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $130,810 | 4% below national |
| 255 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $130,750 | 4% below national |
| 256 | Rapid City, SD | $130,740 | 4% below national |
| 257 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $130,730 | 4% below national |
| 258 | Winston-Salem, NC | $130,730 | 4% below national |
| 259 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $130,730 | 4% below national |
| 260 | Baton Rouge, LA | $130,670 | 4% below national |
| 261 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $130,670 | 4% below national |
| 262 | Jackson, MI | $130,640 | 4% below national |
| 263 | Rochester, NY | $130,430 | 4% below national |
| 264 | Bangor, ME | $130,380 | 4% below national |
| 265 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $130,360 | 4% below national |
| 266 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $130,310 | 4% below national |
| 267 | Saginaw, MI | $130,270 | 4% below national |
| 268 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $130,240 | 4% below national |
| 269 | Reading, PA | $130,160 | 4% below national |
| 270 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $130,140 | 4% below national |
| 271 | Eau Claire, WI | $130,090 | 4% below national |
| 272 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $129,990 | 4% below national |
| 273 | Wausau, WI | $129,980 | 4% below national |
| 274 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $129,980 | 4% below national |
| 275 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $129,940 | 4% below national |
| 276 | Grand Junction, CO | $129,930 | 4% below national |
| 277 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $129,930 | 4% below national |
| 278 | Tucson, AZ | $129,880 | 4% below national |
| 279 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $129,880 | 4% below national |
| 280 | Midland, MI | $129,860 | 4% below national |
| 281 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $129,820 | 4% below national |
| 282 | Idaho Falls, ID | $129,800 | 4% below national |
| 283 | Johnstown, PA | $129,800 | 4% below national |
| 284 | Topeka, KS | $129,800 | 4% below national |
| 285 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $129,680 | 5% below national |
| 286 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $129,680 | 5% below national |
| 287 | Bismarck, ND | $129,650 | 5% below national |
| 288 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $129,620 | 5% below national |
| 289 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $129,510 | 5% below national |
| 290 | Pocatello, ID | $129,480 | 5% below national |
| 291 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $129,460 | 5% below national |
| 292 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $129,430 | 5% below national |
| 293 | Odessa, TX | $129,380 | 5% below national |
| 294 | Springfield, MO | $129,270 | 5% below national |
| 295 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $129,250 | 5% below national |
| 296 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $129,200 | 5% below national |
| 297 | Dover, DE | $129,190 | 5% below national |
| 298 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $129,180 | 5% below national |
| 299 | Gainesville, FL | $129,150 | 5% below national |
| 300 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $129,080 | 5% below national |
| 301 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $129,050 | 5% below national |
| 302 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $128,920 | 5% below national |
| 303 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $128,910 | 5% below national |
| 304 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $128,870 | 5% below national |
| 305 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $128,870 | 5% below national |
| 306 | Wichita Falls, TX | $128,780 | 5% below national |
| 307 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $128,700 | 5% below national |
| 308 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $128,580 | 5% below national |
| 309 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $128,520 | 5% below national |
| 310 | Niles, MI | $128,480 | 5% below national |
| 311 | State College, PA | $128,480 | 5% below national |
| 312 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $128,450 | 5% below national |
| 313 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $128,380 | 6% below national |
| 314 | Goldsboro, NC | $128,370 | 6% below national |
| 315 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $128,340 | 6% below national |
| 316 | Appleton, WI | $128,270 | 6% below national |
| 317 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $128,230 | 6% below national |
| 318 | Longview, TX | $128,180 | 6% below national |
| 319 | Morgantown, WV | $128,170 | 6% below national |
| 320 | Lincoln, NE | $128,050 | 6% below national |
| 321 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $128,040 | 6% below national |
| 322 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $127,940 | 6% below national |
| 323 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $127,900 | 6% below national |
| 324 | Punta Gorda, FL | $127,820 | 6% below national |
| 325 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $127,820 | 6% below national |
| 326 | Rockford, IL | $127,800 | 6% below national |
| 327 | Cheyenne, WY | $127,790 | 6% below national |
| 328 | Santa Fe, NM | $127,730 | 6% below national |
| 329 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $127,670 | 6% below national |
| 330 | Casper, WY | $127,640 | 6% below national |
| 331 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $127,580 | 6% below national |
| 332 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $127,570 | 6% below national |
| 333 | Abilene, TX | $127,550 | 6% below national |
| 334 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $127,390 | 6% below national |
| 335 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $127,370 | 6% below national |
| 336 | Logan, UT-ID | $127,350 | 6% below national |
| 337 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $127,320 | 6% below national |
| 338 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $127,210 | 6% below national |
| 339 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $127,200 | 6% below national |
| 340 | Lake Charles, LA | $127,160 | 6% below national |
| 341 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $127,140 | 6% below national |
| 342 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $127,100 | 6% below national |
| 343 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $126,970 | 7% below national |
| 344 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $126,900 | 7% below national |
| 345 | Richmond, VA | $126,810 | 7% below national |
| 346 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $126,770 | 7% below national |
| 347 | Charleston, WV | $126,620 | 7% below national |
| 348 | York-Hanover, PA | $126,530 | 7% below national |
| 349 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $126,430 | 7% below national |
| 350 | Harrisonburg, VA | $126,400 | 7% below national |
| 351 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $126,360 | 7% below national |
| 352 | Lawrence, KS | $126,340 | 7% below national |
| 353 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $126,290 | 7% below national |
| 354 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $126,230 | 7% below national |
| 355 | Monroe, LA | $126,190 | 7% below national |
| 356 | Winchester, VA-WV | $126,080 | 7% below national |
| 357 | Dubuque, IA | $126,050 | 7% below national |
| 358 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $126,050 | 7% below national |
| 359 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $125,930 | 7% below national |
| 360 | Ocala, FL | $125,790 | 7% below national |
| 361 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $125,730 | 7% below national |
| 362 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $125,700 | 7% below national |
| 363 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $125,690 | 7% below national |
| 364 | Savannah, GA | $125,500 | 8% below national |
| 365 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $125,460 | 8% below national |
| 366 | Tallahassee, FL | $125,410 | 8% below national |
| 367 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $125,370 | 8% below national |
| 368 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $125,350 | 8% below national |
| 369 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $125,290 | 8% below national |
| 370 | Pittsburgh, PA | $125,230 | 8% below national |
| 371 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $125,230 | 8% below national |
| 372 | Flint, MI | $125,190 | 8% below national |
| 373 | Lima, OH | $125,100 | 8% below national |
| 374 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $125,050 | 8% below national |
| 375 | Paducah, KY-IL | $124,990 | 8% below national |
| 376 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $124,990 | 8% below national |
| 377 | Williamsport, PA | $124,920 | 8% below national |
| 378 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $124,870 | 8% below national |
| 379 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $124,610 | 8% below national |
| 380 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $124,580 | 8% below national |
| 381 | Gettysburg, PA | $124,520 | 8% below national |
| 382 | Columbus, IN | $124,460 | 8% below national |
| 383 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $124,300 | 9% below national |
| 384 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $124,190 | 9% below national |
| 385 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $124,170 | 9% below national |
| 386 | Laredo, TX | $124,120 | 9% below national |
| 387 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $124,090 | 9% below national |
| 388 | Lancaster, PA | $124,070 | 9% below national |
| 389 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $124,050 | 9% below national |
| 390 | Bloomington, IN | $123,860 | 9% below national |
| 391 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $123,480 | 9% below national |
| 392 | Evansville, IN | $123,410 | 9% below national |
| 393 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $123,390 | 9% below national |
| 394 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $123,310 | 9% below national |
| 395 | Altoona, PA | $123,270 | 9% below national |
| 396 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $123,110 | 9% below national |
| 397 | Lynchburg, VA | $122,800 | 10% below national |
| 398 | Hot Springs, AR | $122,720 | 10% below national |
| 399 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $122,690 | 10% below national |
| 400 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $122,670 | 10% below national |
| 401 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $122,520 | 10% below national |
| 402 | Rome, GA | $122,440 | 10% below national |
| 403 | Albany, GA | $122,170 | 10% below national |
| 404 | Spartanburg, SC | $121,990 | 10% below national |
| 405 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $121,900 | 10% below national |
| 406 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $121,710 | 10% below national |
| 407 | Wichita, KS | $121,640 | 10% below national |
| 408 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $121,600 | 11% below national |
| 409 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $121,540 | 11% below national |
| 410 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $121,360 | 11% below national |
| 411 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $120,540 | 11% below national |
| 412 | Florence, SC | $120,290 | 11% below national |
| 413 | Mansfield, OH | $120,290 | 11% below national |
| 414 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $120,160 | 12% below national |
| 415 | Chambersburg, PA | $120,030 | 12% below national |
| 416 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $119,840 | 12% below national |
| 417 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $119,570 | 12% below national |
| 418 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $119,070 | 12% below national |
| 419 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $118,430 | 13% below national |
| 420 | Springfield, OH | $117,830 | 13% below national |
| 421 | Jonesboro, AR | $117,660 | 13% below national |
| 422 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $117,490 | 14% below national |
| 423 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $117,240 | 14% below national |
| 424 | Columbus, GA-AL | $117,030 | 14% below national |
| 425 | Rocky Mount, NC | $116,930 | 14% below national |
| 426 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $116,440 | 14% below national |
| 427 | Jacksonville, NC | $116,300 | 14% below national |
| 428 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $116,060 | 15% below national |
| 429 | Columbia, SC | $115,840 | 15% below national |
| 430 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $115,530 | 15% below national |
| 431 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $115,490 | 15% below national |
| 432 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $115,460 | 15% below national |
| 433 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $114,990 | 15% below national |
| 434 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $113,380 | 17% below national |
| 435 | Burlington, NC | $113,200 | 17% below national |
| 436 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $112,610 | 17% below national |
| 437 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $112,230 | 17% below national |
| 438 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $111,810 | 18% below national |
| 439 | Gainesville, GA | $111,440 | 18% below national |
| 440 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $111,420 | 18% below national |
| 441 | Erie, PA | $111,260 | 18% below national |
| 442 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $110,400 | 19% below national |
| 443 | Terre Haute, IN | $109,950 | 19% below national |
| 444 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $109,110 | 20% below national |
| 445 | Hattiesburg, MS | $108,420 | 20% below national |
| 446 | Knoxville, TN | $107,980 | 21% below national |
| 447 | Huntsville, AL | $107,230 | 21% below national |
| 448 | El Paso, TX | $107,220 | 21% below national |
| 449 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $106,980 | 21% below national |
| 450 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $106,760 | 21% below national |
| 451 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $105,920 | 22% below national |
| 452 | Sebring, FL | $105,920 | 22% below national |
| 453 | Birmingham, AL | $105,440 | 22% below national |
| 454 | Mobile, AL | $104,960 | 23% below national |
| 455 | Jackson, TN | $104,600 | 23% below national |
| 456 | Dothan, AL | $103,890 | 24% below national |
| 457 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $103,490 | 24% below national |
| 458 | Morristown, TN | $103,350 | 24% below national |
| 459 | Montgomery, AL | $102,040 | 25% below national |
| 460 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $101,880 | 25% below national |
| 461 | Jackson, MS | $101,830 | 25% below national |
| 462 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $101,120 | 26% below national |
| 463 | Johnson City, TN | $100,060 | 26% below national |
| 464 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $99,790 | 27% below national |
| 465 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $98,130 | 28% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Physician Assistants make? ▼
The median annual salary for Physician Assistants is $135,880 ($65.33/hour). The salary range spans from $99,380 at the 10th percentile to $190,280 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Physician Assistants the most? ▼
New Jersey pays the highest median salary for Physician Assistants at $165,690/year, which is +22% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Physician Assistants? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Physician Assistants is Master's degree.
How dangerous is being a Physician Assistants? ▼
Physician Assistants has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.7 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 1.5 per 100 workers.
Is Physician Assistants a good career? ▼
Employment for Physician Assistants is projected to grow 20.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 12,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Physician Assistants pay vary by state? ▼
Physician Assistants salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is New Jersey at $165,690/year, while Arkansas pays the least at $118,430/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Physician Assistants? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Physician Assistants is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $223,640/year. BLS reports wage data for 465 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Physician Assistants pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $163,980/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New Jersey leads at $165,690/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.