Physician assistants are one of the fastest-growing and highest-paid professions in healthcare. Here’s what PAs actually earn across specialties, settings, and states.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for physician assistants, across all industries:
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $99,380 | $47.78 |
| 25th | $120,670 | $58.01 |
| 50th (median) | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| 75th | $163,980 | $78.84 |
| 90th | $190,280 | $91.48 |
| Average (mean) | $141,280 | $67.92 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Physician Assistants (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
PA Salary by Specialty
| Specialty | Median Salary | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular/Cardiothoracic Surgery | $170,000 | $145,000-$185,000+ |
| Neurosurgery | $165,000 | $140,000-$180,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $155,000 | $135,000-$175,000 |
| General Surgery | $148,000 | $128,000-$170,000 |
| Dermatology | $148,000 | $130,000-$165,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $142,000 | $125,000-$160,000 |
| Gastroenterology | $140,000 | $120,000-$160,000 |
| Urology | $138,000 | $118,000-$155,000 |
| Cardiology (Non-Surgical) | $136,000 | $118,000-$155,000 |
| Oncology | $135,000 | $115,000-$155,000 |
| Hospitalist | $132,000 | $115,000-$150,000 |
| Urgent Care | $125,000 | $110,000-$145,000 |
| Internal Medicine | $122,000 | $105,000-$140,000 |
| Family Medicine | $118,000 | $100,000-$138,000 |
| Pediatrics | $115,000 | $98,000-$135,000 |
| Psychiatry | $128,000 | $110,000-$150,000 |
PA Salary by Setting
| Setting | Median Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital (Surgical) | $145,000 | Includes call, weekend shifts |
| Hospital (Medical) | $132,000 | Hospitalist, specialty floors |
| Emergency Department | $140,000 | Shift work, nights, holidays |
| Physician Private Practice | $125,000 | Varies widely by specialty |
| Outpatient Clinic | $120,000 | M-F schedule common |
| Urgent Care | $125,000 | Extended hours, some weekends |
| Dermatology Office | $148,000 | Excellent hours, high demand |
| Government (VA, Military) | $120,000 | Strong benefits, loan repayment |
| FQHC/Community Health | $115,000 | Loan repayment programs |
| Locum Tenens (Travel) | $150,000-$200,000+ | Premium pay, temporary assignments |
PA Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $169,110 | $99,380 | $165,650 |
| 2 | Washington | $164,430 | $125,580 | $164,360 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $162,100 | $117,860 | $165,690 |
| 4 | Oregon | $155,300 | $123,100 | $155,780 |
| 5 | New York | $155,150 | $106,440 | $160,880 |
| 6 | Vermont | $152,520 | $112,460 | $150,490 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $150,150 | $119,540 | $150,960 |
| 8 | Alaska | $148,080 | $106,060 | $150,700 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $147,630 | $112,390 | $141,190 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $146,930 | $106,380 | $139,860 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $146,780 | $79,280 | $164,050 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $146,630 | $98,760 | $139,930 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $146,480 | $65,220 | $142,410 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $146,230 | $84,520 | $135,140 |
| 15 | Indiana | $144,260 | $105,810 | $132,050 |
| 16 | Delaware | $143,840 | $108,560 | $139,350 |
| 17 | Virginia | $142,630 | $98,330 | $135,940 |
| 18 | Arizona | $140,850 | $106,030 | $134,650 |
| 19 | Montana | $140,800 | $112,200 | $141,470 |
| 20 | Iowa | $139,870 | $102,330 | $134,770 |
| 21 | Maryland | $139,740 | $110,190 | $137,560 |
| 22 | Colorado | $139,580 | $104,590 | $134,540 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $138,700 | $102,890 | $136,550 |
| 24 | Missouri | $137,710 | $82,690 | $135,130 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $137,320 | $102,320 | $136,080 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $136,750 | $102,420 | $133,950 |
| 27 | Ohio | $136,560 | $96,460 | $132,090 |
| 28 | Texas | $135,850 | $102,650 | $134,550 |
| 29 | Nevada | $135,790 | $60,040 | $134,660 |
| 30 | Maine | $134,690 | $107,630 | $131,170 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $134,670 | $70,010 | $139,920 |
| 32 | Florida | $134,470 | $98,530 | $129,620 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $132,810 | $103,720 | $133,040 |
| 34 | Idaho | $132,540 | $100,590 | $133,790 |
| 35 | Utah | $132,530 | $82,910 | $134,740 |
| 36 | Michigan | $132,140 | $104,000 | $131,510 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $131,910 | $104,660 | $133,200 |
| 38 | Illinois | $131,880 | $105,160 | $131,950 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $130,930 | $77,300 | $133,450 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $130,290 | $100,920 | $128,870 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $130,030 | $101,100 | $129,360 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $128,830 | $98,200 | $128,610 |
| 43 | Kansas | $127,240 | $98,280 | $125,640 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $125,160 | $99,050 | $127,070 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $120,720 | $77,620 | $122,490 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $119,990 | $79,550 | $120,760 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $118,430 | $88,160 | $118,430 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $117,300 | $93,380 | $118,240 |
| 49 | Georgia | $112,090 | $62,230 | $115,390 |
| 50 | Alabama | $110,860 | $83,020 | $104,960 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $106,820 | $44,030 | $105,920 |
| — | National | $141,280 | $99,380 | $135,880 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Physician Assistants (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
PA Career Path & Salary Progression
| Career Stage | Salary Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| PA Student | -$40,000-$60,000/year (tuition) | 2-3 years |
| New Graduate PA | $105,000-$120,000 | Year 1 |
| Experienced PA (3-5 years) | $125,000-$145,000 | Years 3-5 |
| Senior PA (7-10 years) | $135,000-$160,000 | Years 7-10 |
| Lead PA/Supervising PA | $145,000-$175,000 | Years 10+ |
| PA Administrator/Director | $150,000-$190,000 | Years 12+ |
PA vs. Nurse Practitioner
| Factor | PA | NP |
|---|---|---|
| Median salary | $130,000 | $126,000 |
| Education | Master’s (2-3 years) | Master’s (2-3 years) |
| Prior clinical experience required | Not required (recommended) | RN experience preferred |
| Education model | Medical (generalist) | Nursing (specialty-focused) |
| Specialty switching | Easier (generalist training) | Harder (specialty-specific) |
| Independent practice | Varies by state (growing) | 27 states + DC (full practice) |
| Prescribing authority | All 50 states (some need MD oversight) | All 50 states (some need oversight) |
| Job growth (2025-2035) | 21.1% | 41% |
PA Income vs. Education Cost
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average PA program cost | $90,000-$120,000 |
| Average student debt at graduation | $100,000-$115,000 |
| Starting salary | $105,000-$120,000 |
| Debt-to-income ratio | 0.8-1.1x |
| Typical payoff timeline | 5-7 years |
| NHSC loan repayment (if FQHC) | Up to $50,000 (2 years) |
| Military loan repayment | Up to $75,000+ |
Favorable debt-to-income ratio compared to medical school (heavier debt, but higher eventual pay).
How to Maximize PA Salary
| Strategy | Potential Increase |
|---|---|
| Choose a surgical specialty | +$15,000-$40,000 |
| Work in a high-paying state | +$10,000-$20,000 |
| Take locum tenens assignments | +$20,000-$70,000 |
| Work nights/weekends (shift differentials) | +$5,000-$15,000 |
| Get specialty certification (CAQ) | +$3,000-$10,000 |
| Negotiate sign-on bonus | $5,000-$25,000 one-time |
| Move to urgent care or EM | +$5,000-$20,000 |
| Take on administrative/leadership role | +$10,000-$30,000 |
| Rural/underserved areas | +$5,000-$15,000 + loan repayment |
PA Job Market
| Factor | Status |
|---|---|
| Job growth (2025-2035) | 21.1% |
| Positions added annually | ~40,000 |
| Unemployment rate | <1% |
| Demand by specialty | High across nearly all specialties |
| Rural demand | Very high — projected shortages |
| Telehealth roles | Growing, especially primary care |
| Team-based care trend | Increasing PA utilization |
The PA profession is one of the most in-demand in healthcare. Physician shortages are driving expanded roles for PAs across all settings.
PA Work-Life Balance
| Setting | Typical Schedule | Work-Life Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient/Primary Care | M-F, 40 hours | Excellent |
| Dermatology | M-F, 36-40 hours | Excellent |
| Urgent Care | 3x 12-hour shifts or rotating | Good |
| Emergency Medicine | 3x 12-hour shifts | Good (but nights) |
| Hospital Medicine | 7 on/7 off | Good (intense blocks) |
| Surgery | 50-60+ hours, call | Challenging |
| Locum Tenens | You choose | Excellent (but travel) |
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See every profession in our salary by profession guides.
Sources
- Social Security Administration. “Benefits and Eligibility Information.” ssa.gov/benefits
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