How much does a physician assistant make?
The median physician assistant in the United States earns $135,880 per year, about $65.33 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all physician assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-1071.
Physician assistant salary range
Pay for physician assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $99,380 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $190,280. The average (mean) wage of $141,280 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $99,380 | $47.78 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $120,670 | $58.02 | |
| Median (50th) | $135,880 | $65.33 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $163,980 | $78.84 | |
| 90th percentile | $190,280 | $91.48 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Physician assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Physician assistants earn the most in New Jersey at $165,690 a year, and the least in Alabama at $104,960. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | 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 |
| District of Columbia | $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 |
State median wages for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for physician assistants
The BLS projects employment of physician assistants to grow 21.1% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 168,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 204,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 11,500 openings a year for physician assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a physician assistant
The typical entry-level education for physician assistants is a master's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a physician assistant earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New Jersey, $165,690) and the lowest (Alabama, $104,960) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 162,150 people work as physician assistants in the United States. At $135,880 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Physician assistant salary FAQ
How much does a physician assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a physician assistant is $65.33. The middle half of physician assistants earn between $58.02 and $78.84 per hour.
What is the highest physician assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of physician assistants earn more than $190,280 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a physician assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for a physician assistant is $135,880. The average (mean) wage of $141,280 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a physician assistant a well paid job?
At $135,880 a year, a physician assistant earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 162,150 people work as physician assistants in the United States.
Which state pays physician assistants the most?
New Jersey has the highest median salary for physician assistants at $165,690 a year. California ($165,650) and Washington ($164,360) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a physician assistant a good career?
Employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 21.1% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 11,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a physician assistant?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for physician assistants as a master's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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