Healthcare5% remote-eligible+4.8% YoY growth

Physician Assistant Salary
by City (2026)

Practice medicine under physician supervision — diagnosing, treating, and prescribing. National median: $130K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$130K

Top 10% earn

$185K

Entry level

$108K

Salary growth

+4.8%/yr

Physician Assistant salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$151K	$182K	$217K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$146K	$176K	$209K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$144K	$173K	$206K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$143K	$172K	$205K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$143K	$172K	$205K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$140K	$169K	$202K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$140K	$169K	$202K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$140K	$169K	$202K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$139K	$167K	$199K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$138K	$166K	$198K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$135K	$163K	$194K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$135K	$163K	$194K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$135K	$162K	$194K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$135K	$162K	$194K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$134K	$161K	$192K	162	None ✓
San Diego, CA	$132K	$159K	$189K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$132K	$159K	$189K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$132K	$159K	$189K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$132K	$159K	$190K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$131K	$158K	$188K	155	11%
Arlington, VA	$130K	$156K	$186K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$130K	$156K	$186K	192	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$129K	$155K	$185K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$128K	$154K	$184K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$128K	$154K	$184K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$127K	$153K	$183K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$127K	$153K	$183K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$127K	$153K	$182K	145	5.75%
Baltimore, MD	$127K	$153K	$183K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$127K	$153K	$182K	145	10.75%
Anchorage, AK	$127K	$153K	$183K	128	None ✓
Paterson, NJ	$125K	$151K	$180K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$124K	$150K	$178K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$124K	$150K	$179K	138	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$124K	$150K	$178K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$124K	$150K	$178K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$124K	$150K	$179K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$124K	$150K	$179K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$121K	$146K	$174K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$121K	$146K	$174K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$121K	$146K	$174K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$119K	$143K	$171K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$119K	$143K	$171K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$119K	$143K	$171K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$119K	$143K	$171K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$118K	$142K	$170K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$117K	$141K	$168K	120	None ✓
Houston, TX	$117K	$140K	$167K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$117K	$140K	$167K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$117K	$140K	$167K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$117K	$140K	$167K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$117K	$140K	$167K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$117K	$140K	$167K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$117K	$140K	$167K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$115K	$139K	$166K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$115K	$139K	$166K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$115K	$139K	$166K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$115K	$139K	$166K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$115K	$139K	$166K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$115K	$139K	$166K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$115K	$139K	$166K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$115K	$139K	$166K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$114K	$138K	$164K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$114K	$138K	$164K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$114K	$138K	$164K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$114K	$138K	$164K	112	4.75%
Austin, TX	$113K	$137K	$163K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$113K	$137K	$163K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$113K	$137K	$163K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$113K	$137K	$163K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$113K	$137K	$163K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$113K	$137K	$163K	118	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$113K	$137K	$163K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$113K	$137K	$163K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$113K	$137K	$163K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$113K	$137K	$163K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$113K	$136K	$162K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$113K	$136K	$162K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$113K	$136K	$162K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$113K	$136K	$162K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$113K	$136K	$162K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$113K	$136K	$162K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$111K	$134K	$160K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$111K	$134K	$160K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$111K	$134K	$160K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$111K	$134K	$160K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$111K	$134K	$160K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$110K	$133K	$158K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$110K	$133K	$158K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$110K	$133K	$158K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$110K	$133K	$158K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$110K	$133K	$158K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$110K	$133K	$158K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$110K	$133K	$158K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$110K	$133K	$158K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$110K	$132K	$157K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$110K	$132K	$157K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$110K	$132K	$157K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$110K	$132K	$157K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$110K	$132K	$157K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$110K	$132K	$157K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$110K	$132K	$157K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$110K	$132K	$157K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$109K	$131K	$156K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$109K	$131K	$156K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$109K	$131K	$156K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$109K	$131K	$156K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$109K	$131K	$156K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$109K	$131K	$156K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$109K	$131K	$156K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$109K	$131K	$156K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$109K	$131K	$156K	98	7.15%
Orlando, FL	$108K	$130K	$155K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$108K	$130K	$155K	105	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$108K	$130K	$155K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$108K	$130K	$155K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$108K	$130K	$155K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$108K	$130K	$155K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$108K	$130K	$155K	100	4.85%
Bakersfield, CA	$108K	$129K	$154K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$108K	$129K	$154K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$108K	$129K	$154K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$108K	$129K	$154K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$108K	$129K	$154K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$108K	$129K	$154K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$108K	$129K	$154K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$106K	$128K	$153K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$106K	$128K	$153K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$106K	$128K	$153K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$106K	$128K	$153K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$106K	$128K	$153K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$106K	$127K	$152K	90	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$106K	$127K	$152K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$106K	$127K	$152K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$106K	$127K	$152K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$106K	$127K	$152K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$106K	$127K	$152K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$106K	$127K	$152K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$106K	$127K	$152K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$106K	$127K	$152K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$106K	$127K	$152K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$106K	$127K	$152K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$106K	$127K	$152K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$106K	$127K	$152K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$106K	$127K	$152K	105	6.5%
Fargo, ND	$106K	$127K	$152K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$105K	$126K	$151K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$104K	$125K	$149K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$104K	$125K	$149K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$104K	$125K	$149K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$104K	$125K	$149K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$104K	$125K	$149K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$104K	$125K	$149K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$104K	$125K	$149K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	5%
Lafayette, LA	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$104K	$125K	$149K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$103K	$124K	$147K	84	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$103K	$124K	$147K	88	6.85%
Cleveland, OH	$103K	$124K	$147K	82	3.99%
Huntsville, AL	$103K	$124K	$147K	88	5%
New Orleans, LA	$103K	$124K	$147K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$103K	$124K	$147K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$103K	$124K	$147K	88	5.84%
Amarillo, TX	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$102K	$123K	$147K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$101K	$122K	$145K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	5.75%
Toledo, OH	$101K	$122K	$145K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$101K	$122K	$145K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$101K	$122K	$145K	78	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$101K	$122K	$145K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$102K	$122K	$146K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$101K	$122K	$145K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$99K	$120K	$143K	82	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$100K	$120K	$143K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$99K	$120K	$143K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$99K	$120K	$143K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$99K	$120K	$143K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$99K	$120K	$143K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$99K	$120K	$143K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$99K	$120K	$143K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$99K	$120K	$143K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$99K	$120K	$143K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$99K	$120K	$143K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$100K	$120K	$143K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$100K	$120K	$143K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$97K	$117K	$140K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$97K	$117K	$140K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$97K	$117K	$140K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$97K	$117K	$140K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$95K	$114K	$136K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$95K	$114K	$136K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $130K Physician Assistant salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Physician Assistant Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Physician Assistant is $130,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $108,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $155,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Physician Assistants nationally earn $185,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's in Physician Assistant Studies; PA-C certification. This role is 5% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Physician Assistant compensation is growing at 4.8% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Physician Assistant salary FAQ

How much does a Physician Assistant make?

The median Physician Assistant salary in the US is $130,000 per year — about $63/hour. Most earn between $108,000 (25th percentile) and $155,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Physician Assistant?

Entry-level Physician Assistant positions typically start around $108,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Physician Assistants earn?

The top 10% of Physician Assistants earn $185,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Physician Assistants the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Physician Assistant salary at $182K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Physician Assistant salaries going up?

Yes — Physician Assistant pay is growing about 4.8% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Physician Assistant Salaryby City (2026)