SOC 29-1071 · BLS occupation: Physician Assistant (PA) · May 2025
Physician Assistant Salary
Physician Assistant (PA)s in the US earn a median of $135,880 a year ($67.92 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Physician Assistant (PA) pay climbed from $112,410 in 2019 to $141,280 in 2025, a +25.7% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$135,880
Half of all Physician Assistant (PA)s in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+25.7% since 2019 · +3.2% YoY
Hourly
$67.92
Job growth 2025-35
+21.1%
US workers
162,150
BLS series
Annual median wage for Physician Assistants in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Physician Assistant (PA)s is $99,380 – $190,280.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$99,380
25th
$120,670
Median
$135,880
75th
$163,980
90th
$190,280
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Physician Assistant (PA)s. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $99,380 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $120,670 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $135,880 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $163,980 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $190,280 |
Geography
Physician Assistant (PA) pay by state
Physician Assistant (PA)s earn the most in New Jersey ($165,690, +22% against the national median) and the least in Alabama ($104,960). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$135,880
Highest-paying states for physician assistant (pa)s
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 | +22% | 4,790 |
| California | $165,650 | +22% | 13,600 |
| Washington | $164,360 | +21% | 3,540 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 | +21% | 530 |
| New York | $160,880 | +18% | 19,140 |
| Oregon | $155,780 | +15% | 2,250 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 | +11% | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $150,700 | +11% | 700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 | +11% | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 | +5% | 4,470 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 | 4,790 |
| California | $165,650 | 13,600 |
| Washington | $164,360 | 3,540 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 | 530 |
| New York | $160,880 | 19,140 |
| Oregon | $155,780 | 2,250 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $150,700 | 700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 | 4,470 |
| Montana | $141,470 | 600 |
| Minnesota | $141,190 | 3,660 |
| Rhode Island | $139,930 | 810 |
| New Mexico | $139,920 | 700 |
| Connecticut | $139,860 | 3,570 |
| Delaware | $139,350 | 860 |
| Maryland | $137,560 | 2,950 |
| Oklahoma | $136,550 | 1,770 |
| Wyoming | $136,080 | 330 |
| Virginia | $135,940 | 4,340 |
| D.C. | $135,140 | 470 |
| Missouri | $135,130 | 2,300 |
| Iowa | $134,770 | 1,200 |
| Utah | $134,740 | 1,610 |
| Nevada | $134,660 | 1,090 |
| Arizona | $134,650 | 3,750 |
| Texas | $134,550 | 10,110 |
| Colorado | $134,540 | 3,270 |
| Wisconsin | $133,950 | 3,580 |
| Idaho | $133,790 | 1,320 |
| North Dakota | $133,450 | 510 |
| South Dakota | $133,200 | 680 |
| Nebraska | $133,040 | 1,330 |
| Ohio | $132,090 | 4,900 |
| Indiana | $132,050 | 2,110 |
| Illinois | $131,950 | 3,790 |
| Michigan | $131,510 | 6,310 |
| Maine | $131,170 | 1,030 |
| Florida | $129,620 | 9,310 |
| North Carolina | $129,360 | 7,490 |
| Louisiana | $128,870 | 1,360 |
| West Virginia | $128,610 | 1,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $127,070 | 9,020 |
| Kansas | $125,640 | 890 |
| South Carolina | $122,490 | 2,250 |
| Kentucky | $120,760 | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $118,430 | 850 |
| Tennessee | $118,240 | 2,240 |
| Georgia | $115,390 | 5,610 |
| Mississippi | $105,920 | 320 |
| Alabama | $104,960 | 930 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Physician Assistant (PA)s
Physician assistants examine patients, diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, and assist in surgery under physician supervision. The role requires a PA-program master's degree and passing the PANCE certification exam. PA is one of the fastest-growing healthcare roles.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $99,380 – $190,280. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are New Jersey, California and Washington. Pay in New Jersey runs 1.6 times the level in Alabama, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as master's degree, and projects about 11,500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 21.1% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Physician Assistant (PA) salary in the US?
How much does a Physician Assistant (PA) make an hour?
How much do Physician Assistant (PA)s make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Physician Assistant (PA)s the most?
Is the average Physician Assistant (PA) salary higher than the median?
Is Physician Assistant (PA) a growing career?
Open positions
Open Physician Assistant (PA) roles hiring now
Browse current Physician Assistant (PA) listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1071. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.