Physician Assistant Salaries & Wage Percentiles
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Methodology
Practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers, examining patients, diagnosing illnesses, and prescribing medication.
National Wage Percentile Spectrum
Empirical distribution from entry-level apprentice (10th percentile) to senior principal / master tier (90th percentile).
Nationwide State Salary Rankings
State-by-state empirical labor compensation benchmarked against local cost of living and purchasing power.
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | CoL Adjusted Real Wage | Total Employed | Top Metro in State | CoL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California CA | $168,799 | $81.15/hr | $115,378 | 12,860 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 146.3 |
| #2 | Vermont VT | $163,560 | $78.64/hr | $112,335 | 200 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 145.6 |
| #3 | Alaska AK | $158,810 | $76.35/hr | $129,218 | 530 | Fairbanks-College, AK | 122.9 |
| #4 | Washington WA | $156,081 | $75.04/hr | $136,434 | 2,880 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 114.4 |
| #5 | Hawaii HI | $152,510 | $73.33/hr | $93,794 | 440 | Urban Honolulu, HI | 162.6 |
| #6 | Oregon OR | $149,753 | $72.00/hr | $124,587 | 2,110 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 120.2 |
| #7 | Massachusetts MA | $148,641 | $71.46/hr | $113,640 | 4,600 | Barnstable Town, MA | 130.8 |
| #8 | District of Columbia DC | $148,200 | $71.25/hr | $93,266 | 3,020 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 158.9 |
Top Metropolitan Areas for Maximum Earnings
High-yield metros commanding premier compensation, rent affordability, and living wage coverage.
Career Ladder & Progression Stages
Typical milestones from entry level to senior roles.
ARC-PA accredited Master's degree, NCCPA PANCE certification, state licensing
First-assist surgical certification, specialty clinical rotations, DEA registration
Advanced clinical autonomy, specialized procedural competence, supervision of PA fellows
Hospital clinical administration, credentialing oversight, departmental leadership
Skill-Adjacent Career Opportunities
Direct lateral transitions capitalizing on shared occupational competencies and BLS wage differentials.
Physician Assistant: Career Ladder, Industry Hub & Regional Parity
Navigate parent industry benchmarks, lateral career progressions, and cross-pillar living cost calculators.
Healthcare Directory
Compare wage percentiles, required certifications, and senior salary caps across all Healthcare occupations.
Adjacent Career Paths
Living Cost & Tax Parity
Occupational Labor Economics & Frequently Asked Questions
Explore national wage percentiles (10th to 90th), top-paying metropolitan areas, and career ladder progression for Physician Assistant. Official 2026 economic data for Physician Assistant compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
National compensation benchmarks for Physician Assistant range across the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles based on BLS OEWS labor market statistics.
Physician Assistant: Where the Pay Is Highest
The national median for Physician Assistant is $135,880 per year ($65.33/hour). BLS OEWS publishes this occupation in 348 metropolitan areas, where median pay ranges from $102,040 in Montgomery, AL to $223,640 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
Top-paying metropolitan areas for Physician Assistant
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs national |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $223,640 | +64.6% |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $198,070 | +45.8% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $184,380 | +35.7% |
| Yuba City, CA | $183,460 | +35.0% |
| Vallejo, CA | $179,520 | +32.1% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $172,750 | +27.1% |
| Napa, CA | $172,170 | +26.7% |
| Salinas, CA | $170,180 | +25.2% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $170,060 | +25.2% |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $168,080 | +23.7% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $167,650 | +23.4% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $167,290 | +23.1% |