How Much Do Physician Assistants Make in 2026? (PA Salary by State)
Updated
Physician assistants in the US earn $126,010 on average — one of the highest-paying healthcare careers requiring only a master’s degree.
Average Physician Assistant Salary in 2026
Metric
Amount
Average PA salary
$126,010
Median PA salary
$121,530
Entry level (0-2 years)
$102,000
Mid-career (5-10 years)
$125,000
Experienced (10+ years)
$145,000+
Hourly rate
$60.58
Physician Assistant Salary by State
State
Average Salary
Hourly Rate
vs. National
California
$150,000
$72.12
+19%
Connecticut
$145,000
$69.71
+15%
Washington
$142,000
$68.27
+13%
Alaska
$140,000
$67.31
+11%
Nevada
$138,000
$66.35
+10%
New York
$137,500
$66.11
+9%
Massachusetts
$135,000
$64.90
+7%
New Jersey
$134,000
$64.42
+6%
Oregon
$132,000
$63.46
+5%
Hawaii
$130,000
$62.50
+3%
Colorado
$126,000
$60.58
0%
Texas
$122,000
$58.65
-3%
Florida
$118,000
$56.73
-6%
Georgia
$116,000
$55.77
-8%
Ohio
$115,000
$55.29
-9%
North Carolina
$114,000
$54.81
-10%
Tennessee
$110,000
$52.88
-13%
Alabama
$106,000
$50.96
-16%
Physician Assistant Salary by Specialty
Specialty
Average Salary
Job Growth
Dermatology
$155,000
Moderate
Cardiothoracic Surgery
$150,000
Moderate
Emergency Medicine
$145,000
High
Orthopedic Surgery
$142,000
High
Urology
$138,000
Moderate
Gastroenterology
$135,000
Moderate
Neurosurgery
$148,000
Low
Psychiatry
$135,000
Very High
Family Medicine
$115,000
Very High
Pediatrics
$112,000
High
Urgent Care
$120,000
Very High
Surgical Specialties Pay Premium
PAs in surgical specialties earn $20,000-$35,000 more than primary care PAs due to:
Operating room assist duties
Call/weekend requirements
Specialized training needed
Higher procedure reimbursement
Physician Assistant Salary by Setting
Work Setting
Average Salary
Hospitals - Surgical
$145,000
Outpatient specialty
$135,000
Emergency departments
$140,000
Urgent care centers
$125,000
Hospitals - Non-surgical
$125,000
Physician offices
$118,000
Government/VA
$130,000
Academia/Teaching
$105,000
PA vs. NP vs. MD Salary Comparison
Role
Average Salary
Education
Training Time
Nurse Practitioner
$121,610
MSN/DNP
2-4 years post-RN
Physician Assistant
$126,010
Master’s
2-3 years
Physician (Primary)
$239,000
MD/DO
7-11 years
Physician (Specialist)
$350,000+
MD/DO
10-15 years
PAs earn slightly more than NPs with similar education length but different clinical approach.
Physician Assistant Salary by Experience
Experience Level
Salary Range
Typical Hourly
New Grad (0-1 year)
$95,000-$110,000
$46-$53
Early Career (1-4 years)
$110,000-$125,000
$53-$60
Mid-Career (5-9 years)
$125,000-$145,000
$60-$70
Experienced (10-19 years)
$140,000-$165,000
$67-$79
Expert (20+ years)
$155,000-$190,000
$75-$91
How to Increase PA Salary
Specialize in surgery — Derm, ortho, cardiothoracic pay top dollar
Negotiate aggressively — PA salaries vary widely for same roles
Work in high-paying states — CA, CT, WA offer premium rates
Take call/weekends — Extra shifts add $15,000-$30,000
Obtain additional certifications — CAQ (Certificate of Added Qualification)
Work locum tenens — $100-$150/hour + travel stipends
Consider rural areas — Loan repayment + higher relative pay
PA Salary With Bonuses and Benefits
Compensation Component
Typical Range
Base salary
$120,000-$140,000
Signing bonus
$5,000-$25,000
Production bonus
$5,000-$20,000
CME allowance
$2,500-$5,000
Student loan repayment
$0-$50,000
Total compensation
$135,000-$200,000
Many employers offer significant bonuses and benefits beyond base salary.
Physician Assistant Salary After Taxes
Gross Salary
Federal Tax
FICA
State Tax (avg)
Take-Home
$110,000
$15,900
$8,415
$4,400
$81,285
$126,010
$20,000
$9,640
$5,040
$91,330
$145,000
$25,300
$11,093
$5,800
$102,807
$165,000
$32,300
$11,893
$6,600
$114,207
Job Outlook for Physician Assistants
Metric
Data
Projected growth (2022-2032)
27%
Current employment
168,000
Annual job openings
13,600
Median time to find job
2-6 weeks
PA is one of the fastest-growing professions in the US economy.
Cost to Become a Physician Assistant
Expense
Cost
Bachelor’s degree
$40,000-$160,000
PA program (2-3 years)
$80,000-$150,000
PANCE exam fees
$550
State licensing
$100-$500
Total Investment
$120,000-$310,000
With average salaries of $126,000+, the ROI typically pays off within 5-7 years.
Is Physician Assistant a Good Career?
Pros:
High salary ($126K+ average)
Excellent job growth (27%)
Diverse specialty options
Work-life balance possible
Shorter training than physicians
Lateral mobility between specialties
Cons:
Expensive graduate education
Physician supervision required
High responsibility/liability
Competitive PA school admission
Some scope limitations by state
Bottom Line
Physician assistants earn $126,010/year on average, with surgical specialists earning $145,000-$165,000. With 27% job growth, excellent salary, and shorter training than physicians, PA remains one of the best healthcare careers. Consider surgical or specialty tracks for highest earning potential.