HealthcareUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Physician Assistant Salary
in Seattle, WA

Practice medicine under physician supervision β€” diagnosing, treating, and prescribing. Median salary in Seattle: $159K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$159K
per year
Take-home: $112K

Salary range in Seattle

Entry level (25th)$132,000
Median (50th)$159,000
Senior (75th)$189,000
Top earner (90th)$226,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Seattle, Washington. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

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What the numbers say for Seattle

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above β€” specific to this role and city.

22% premium vs national median

Physician Assistants in Seattle earn approximately 22% higher than the US national median for this role β€” a $29,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Seattle's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for Seattle's cost-of-living index (150), the median Physician Assistant salary buys the equivalent of $106,000 in a US-average-cost city. That's $24,000 less purchasing power than the national median β€” the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.

No state income tax β€” $15K effective edge

Washington has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $14,787 per year at this salary level compared to a California Physician Assistant on the same gross pay. A Seattle Physician Assistant would need to earn $175,303 in California to net the same take-home.

Key facts for Seattle

Median salary
$159K
annual
Take-home pay
$112K
after fed/state tax
COL index
150
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$2,200
per month
YoY growth
+4.8%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Seattle Physician Assistant to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $190K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Seattle

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Physician Assistant salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$133K$149K$166K$182K$198K201920212023202520272029
2026
$166K
projected
2027
$174K
projected
2028
$181K
projected
2029
$190K
projected
2030
$198K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$166,000+$7,000
2028 projected$174,000+$15,000
2029 projected$181,000+$22,000
2030 projected$190,000+$31,000

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Physician Assistant Salary in Seattle, Washington: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Physician Assistant salary in Seattle, WA is $159,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Seattle–WA 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.

Salary range for Physician Assistant in Seattle

Entry-level Physician Assistants in Seattle with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $132,000 and $159,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $159,000 to $189,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $189,000 to $226,000 or more.

Cost of living in Seattle for Physician Assistants

Seattle has a cost of living index of 150 compared to the US national average of 100. Seattle's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Crucially, Washington has no state income tax β€” giving Seattle-based Physician Assistants an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Physician Assistant

Master's in Physician Assistant Studies; PA-C certification. 5% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Physician Assistant salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Seattle (current)$159K150
Spokane$125K95
Tacoma$143K128
Vancouver$153K118
Bellevue$228K175
Kirkland$211K162