SOC 29-1071

Physician Assistant Salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC (2026)

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + NC
COL Index: 136.24 (+36.2% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 69.4% Realized
$86,305 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $124,300 $59.76/hr
Effective Tax Drag 24.57% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$30,537 $1,174.52/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $59.76 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$7,458/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,641/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$16,875
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$7,707
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,802
North Carolina Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$4,153
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$86,305 ($3,319.41 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Raleigh-Cary, NC Physician Assistant Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $124,300
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $106k 25th $114k Median: $124,300 50th (Median) $124k 75th $138k 90th $156k You: $124,300
10th (Entry) $105,730 $50.83/hr
25th (Junior) $114,100 $54.86/hr
50th (Median) $124,300 $59.76/hr
75th (Senior) $138,120 $66.40/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $156,000 $75.00/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Physician Assistant in Raleigh-Cary, NC
1
Junior Physician AssistantARC-PA accredited Master's degree, NCCPA PANCE certification, state licensing
$96,052$46.18/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Staff Physician Assistant (Surgical/Inpatient)First-assist surgical certification, specialty clinical rotations, DEA registration
$115,271$55.42/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Senior Physician Assistant SpecialistAdvanced clinical autonomy, specialized procedural competence, supervision of PA fellows
$133,558$64.21/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Chief Physician Assistant / Clinical DirectorHospital clinical administration, credentialing oversight, departmental leadership
$153,683$73.89/hr · 8+ Years
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
22% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,552/month Requires minimum annual gross of $62,080
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,689/month Requires minimum annual gross of $67,560
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $30.13/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $24.42/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Raleigh-Cary, NC.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$124,300-$30,537$86,305$3,319.41
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$147,606-$38,353$100,397$3,861.41
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$170,913-$46,268$114,390$4,399.60
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$194,219-$53,581$128,985$4,960.96
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$217,525-$60,208$144,265$5,548.66
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Physician Assistant in Raleigh-Cary, NC: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and North Carolina tax codes.

Market Baseline
$124,300/yr
$59.76/hr · SOC 29-1071
Statutory Tax Drag
24.57% Effective
-$30,537 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
22% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$5,640/mo
Post-$1,552/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 29-1071
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Physician Assistant in Raleigh-Cary, NC: Market Snapshot

Physician Assistant roles in Raleigh-Cary, NC report a median annual wage of $124,300, 8.5% below the national median of $135,880. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $105,730 to $156,000, and HUD’s $1,552 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 15.0% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $30.13 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Physician Assistant

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$223,640+79.9%
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$198,070+59.3%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$184,380+48.3%
Yuba City, CA$183,460+47.6%
Vallejo, CA$179,520+44.4%
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$172,750+39.0%
Napa, CA$172,170+38.5%
Salinas, CA$170,180+36.9%
Urban Honolulu, HI$170,060+36.8%
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA$168,080+35.2%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Raleigh-Cary, NC

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$286,050$137.52/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$173,960$83.63/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$173,510$83.42/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$169,780$81.62/hr
Marketing Managers$167,640$80.60/hr
Sales Managers$163,520$78.62/hr
Financial Manager$163,130$78.43/hr
Human Resources Managers$144,190$69.32/hr
Cybersecurity Analyst$143,640$69.06/hr
Actuary$142,180$68.36/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 348 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Physician Assistant Salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC (2026) Overview

Physician Assistant median pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $124,300 a year ($59.76/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents & living. Official 2026 economic data for Physician Assistant in Raleigh-Cary, NC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a Physician Assistant in Raleigh-Cary, NC?

The median annual wage is $124,300 ($59.76 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $105,730 and $156,000. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Physician Assistant in Raleigh-Cary, NC after taxes?

On the median wage of $124,300, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $91,774 a year ($7,648 a month) after $32,526 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 26.17%, using 2026 tax rules.