Physician Assistant Salary
Median annual base pay is $130,000 across 548 reported Physician Assistant salaries.
Updated 24 August 2026
Salary Distribution (By Percentile)
| P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $94,100 | $110,000 | $130,000 | $154,000 | $185,400 |
Salary by Experience
| Experience | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | $112,000 | 29 |
| 3-5 yrs | $128,000 | 16 |
| 6-10 yrs | $148,000 | 11 |
| 11-15 yrs | $163,000 | 5 |
Highest Paying States
| State | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $194,100 | 7 |
| South Dakota | $184,400 | 7 |
| California | $160,300 | 30 |
| Idaho | $158,400 | 7 |
| New Jersey | $148,803 | 9 |
| Maryland | $147,700 | 11 |
| New York | $145,177 | 28 |
| Ohio | $144,000 | 10 |
| Rhode Island | $143,300 | 8 |
| North Carolina | $142,800 | 8 |
By Practice Setting
| Setting | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Community Hospital | $143,100 | 13 |
| Emergency Department | $135,000 | 6 |
| Outpatient Clinic | $130,052 | 18 |
| Private Practice (Physician-Owned) | $125,000 | 6 |
Salary by Level
| Level | Common titles | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | New Grad PA | $124,998 | 9 |
| Junior / Early Career | PA-C · PA I · Surgical PA | $128,000 | 35 |
| Senior | Senior PA · PA III · Senior Surgical PA | — | 4 |
| Lead / Expert | Lead PA · Principal PA · Lead Surgical PA | — | 2 |
How They're Paid
| Model | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Salary | $130,200 | 78 |
| Hourly | $135,200 | 10 |
Physician Assistant salaries by state
Common questions
How much does a Physician Assistant make?
The median Physician Assistant salary is $130,000 per year, based on 548 reported salaries.
Which state pays Physician Assistants the most?
Hawaii has the highest median at $194,100 per year, of the states with enough reports to publish a median.
How much do Physician Assistants with 11-15 yrs of experience make?
$163,000 per year at the median — $33,000 above the Physician Assistant median.
How much does a Physician Assistant at the Junior / Early Career level make?
$128,000 per year at the median — $2,000 below the Physician Assistant median.