Physician Assistant Salary
Physician assistants practice medicine under physician supervision, examining patients, diagnosing conditions, prescribing treatments, and assisting in surgical procedures.
Physician Assistant Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level physician assistants earn around $88,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $126,000. Senior-level physician assistants can earn $162,000 or more.
Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for physician assistants varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $84,000, while the top 10% earn $174,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $84,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $106,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $126,010 |
| 75th Percentile | $151,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $174,000 |
Physician Assistant Salary by State
Physician Assistant salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $224,298, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $102,068.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $224,298 | Details → |
| #2 California | $183,975 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $180,194 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $162,553 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $160,033 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $151,212 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $149,952 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $146,172 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $143,651 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $141,131 | Details → |
| #11 New Hampshire | $136,091 | Details → |
| #12 Rhode Island | $136,091 | Details → |
| #13 Colorado | $134,831 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $133,571 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $129,790 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $129,790 | Details → |
| #17 Minnesota | $127,270 | Details → |
| #18 Florida | $126,010 | Details → |
| #19 Maine | $126,010 | Details → |
| #20 Nevada | $124,750 | Details → |
| #21 Pennsylvania | $124,750 | Details → |
| #22 Arizona | $122,230 | Details → |
| #23 Illinois | $122,230 | Details → |
| #24 Utah | $122,230 | Details → |
| #25 Texas | $118,449 | Details → |
| #26 Wisconsin | $118,449 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $117,189 | Details → |
| #28 Montana | $117,189 | Details → |
| #29 Idaho | $115,929 | Details → |
| #30 North Carolina | $115,929 | Details → |
| #31 Ohio | $115,929 | Details → |
| #32 Louisiana | $114,669 | Details → |
| #33 New Mexico | $114,669 | Details → |
| #34 Tennessee | $114,669 | Details → |
| #35 Indiana | $113,409 | Details → |
| #36 Michigan | $113,409 | Details → |
| #37 Nebraska | $113,409 | Details → |
| #38 North Dakota | $113,409 | Details → |
| #39 Wyoming | $113,409 | Details → |
| #40 Iowa | $112,149 | Details → |
| #41 South Carolina | $112,149 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $110,889 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $110,889 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $109,629 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $109,629 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $109,629 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $105,848 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $103,328 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $103,328 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $102,068 | Details → |
Key Responsibilities
- ● Conduct physical examinations and patient histories
- ● Diagnose and treat common illnesses and injuries
- ● Prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests
- ● Assist in surgical procedures and post-operative care
- ● Provide patient education and preventive health counseling
Top Skills
Education Required
Master's degree
Job Outlook
Much faster than average — projected 28% growth over the next decade