Practice medicine under physician supervision — diagnosing, treating, and prescribing. Median salary in Chicago: $146K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Chicago, Illinois. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Physician Assistants in Chicago earn approximately 12% higher than the US national median for this role — a $16,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Chicago's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Chicago's cost-of-living index (107), the median Physician Assistant salary buys the equivalent of $136,449 in a US-average-cost city. That's $6,449 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.
Only 5% of Physician Assistant positions offer remote flexibility, meaning the Chicago salary above represents what local employers actually pay — not a remote-anywhere rate. Geographic constraints reinforce the local market, so the salary range above is more directly applicable than for remote-friendly roles.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $174K by 2030.
Enter your email for free access. We'll send salary market updates — unsubscribe anytime.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The median Physician Assistant salary in Chicago, IL is $146,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Chicago–IL metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Physician Assistants in Chicago with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $121,000 and $146,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $146,000 to $174,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $174,000 to $207,000 or more.
Chicago has a cost of living index of 107 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Chicago are close to the national average. Illinois has a 4.95% state income tax rate.
Master's in Physician Assistant Studies; PA-C certification. 5% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.