How Much Do Physician Assistants Make?
How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2024, the average annual salary for Physician Assistants (PAs) is $133,260 or $64.07 per hour.
The lowest 10 percent of PAs brought home $95,240 or less annually, while the highest 10 percent earned $182,200 or more.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. Enrollment: Nationwide WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE-accredited, nonprofit university offering bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, with the additional distinction of being named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. Join a trusted, accredited online university to accelerate your nursing career on your schedule. Scholarships and financial aid are available. Enrollment: Nationwide Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education. Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details. Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge. Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details. As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty University's online programs offer students an accessible Christian education that can suit their schedule. Their online nursing programs are designed to prepare practicing nurses to serve with integrity by teaching them advanced skills from an ethical perspective. At Liberty, you'll have access to the tools you need to stay on the cutting edge of nursing care and innovation. Enrollment: NationwidePopular Online Healthcare Leadership Programs
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
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Physician Assistant Salary by State
| State | Median Annual Wage | Median Hourly Wage |
| Alabama | $48.86 | $101,620 |
| Alaska | $65.55 | $136,350 |
| Arizona | $65.02 | $135,240 |
| Arkansas | $49.78 | $103,550 |
| California | $77.44 | $161,080 |
| Connecticut | $66.56 | $138,440 |
| Delaware | $66.69 | $138,720 |
| District of Columbia | $63.01 | $131,070 |
| Florida | $61.15 | $127,200 |
| Georgia | $52.88 | $109,990 |
| Hawaii | $78.38 | $163,020 |
| Idaho | $62.02 | $129,000 |
| Illinois | $59.13 | $122,990 |
| Indiana | $63.56 | $132,200 |
| Iowa | $64.14 | $133,400 |
| Kansas | $59.83 | $124,440 |
| Kentucky | $53.03 | $110,300 |
| Louisiana | $62.31 | $129,610 |
| Maine | $63.10 | $131,250 |
| Maryland | $64.47 | $134,100 |
| Massachusetts | $66.39 | $138,090 |
| Michigan | $63.45 | $131,980 |
| Minnesota | $66.97 | $139,300 |
| Mississippi | $50.27 | $104,570 |
| Missouri | $66.92 | $139,200 |
| Montana | $63.93 | $132,980 |
| Nebraska | $61.66 | $128,240 |
| Nevada | $64.16 | $133,450 |
| New Hampshire | $66.02 | $137,330 |
| New Jersey | $67.54 | $140,490 |
| New Mexico | $67.30 | $139,990 |
| New York | $73.39 | $152,650 |
| North Carolina | $61.80 | $128,540 |
| North Dakota | $60.66 | $126,180 |
| Ohio | $60.94 | $126,760 |
| Oklahoma | $62.86 | $130,750 |
| Oregon | $71.70 | $149,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $60.04 | $124,880 |
| Rhode Island | $68.08 | $141,600 |
| South Carolina | $57.31 | $119,190 |
| South Dakota | $61.60 | $128,130 |
| Tennessee | $54.80 | $113,990 |
| Texas | $63.85 | $132,810 |
| Utah | $64.61 | $134,390 |
| Vermont | $66.64 | $138,610 |
| Virginia | $65.14 | $135,490 |
| Washington | $75.47 | $156,990 |
| West Virginia | $59.12 | $122,970 |
| Wisconsin | $63.86 | $132,820 |
| Wyoming | $64.10 | $133,330 |
Source: BLS, Retrieved 3 July 2025
Physician Assistant Salary by Years of Experience
As of 2023, physician assistants earn the following salaries by years of experience, according to Payscale.
- Less than 1 years of experience earn an average annual salary of $94,476
- 1-4 years of experience earn an average annual salary of $100,110
- 5-9 years of experience earns an average annual salary of $110,864
- 10-19 years of experience earns an average annual salary of $116,390
- 20+ years of experience earns an average annual salary of $120,981
Physician Assistant Salary by Work Setting
According to the BLS, as of May 2021, the median annual wages for Physician Assistants in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- Outpatient care centers: $141,050
- Hospitals; state, local, and private: $134,120
- Offices of physicians: $126,280
- Government: $122,010
- Educational services; state, local, and private: $115,160
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. Enrollment: Nationwide WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE-accredited, nonprofit university offering bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, with the additional distinction of being named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. Join a trusted, accredited online university to accelerate your nursing career on your schedule. Scholarships and financial aid are available. Enrollment: Nationwide Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education. Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details. Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge. Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details. As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty University's online programs offer students an accessible Christian education that can suit their schedule. Their online nursing programs are designed to prepare practicing nurses to serve with integrity by teaching them advanced skills from an ethical perspective. At Liberty, you'll have access to the tools you need to stay on the cutting edge of nursing care and innovation. Enrollment: NationwidePopular Online Healthcare Leadership Programs
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
How to Make More Money as a Physician Assistant
Negotiation
PA positions are typically salary-based, which indicates that negotiation can be essential in earning a higher salary.
Overtime
Physician Assistants who work overtime are entitled to increased pay for their additional work hours. Generally, this is considered time-and-a-half pay. In most cases, this means working over 40 hours a week.
The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that all "non-exempt" employees receive overtime pay equal to one-and-one-half times their regular pay rate for every hour over 40 hours worked during a work week.
Per Diem or Contract Employment
Per diem and contract employees earn a higher wage than staff members. They are paid a premium for working less desirable shifts and having shifts canceled at any given time. Per diem employees are not offered guaranteed hours, so remember that a paycheck most likely will not be consistent.
Hazard Pay
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, hazard pay means “additional pay for performing a hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship.” It may also include work duty that causes “extreme physical discomfort and distress.”
Is Becoming a Physician Assistant Worth it?
Becoming a PA is a very in-demand career. According to the BLS, there is a projected growth of 28% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 12,200 openings for physician assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. According to U.S. News & World Report, PAs rank #2 in Best Health Care Jobs, #4 in 100 Best Jobs, and #4 in Best STEM Jobs.
Salaries of Related Nursing Careers vs. Physician Assistant
- Registered Nurses (RNs) earn $93,600 per year, $45.00 per hour as of May 2024, according to the BLS.
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs) earn $129,210 per year as of May 2024, according to the BLS.
- Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) earn $128,790 per year as of May 2024, according to the BLS.
Physician Assistant FAQs
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. Enrollment: Nationwide WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE-accredited, nonprofit university offering bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, with the additional distinction of being named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. Join a trusted, accredited online university to accelerate your nursing career on your schedule. Scholarships and financial aid are available. Enrollment: Nationwide Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education. Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details. Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge. Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details. As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty University's online programs offer students an accessible Christian education that can suit their schedule. Their online nursing programs are designed to prepare practicing nurses to serve with integrity by teaching them advanced skills from an ethical perspective. At Liberty, you'll have access to the tools you need to stay on the cutting edge of nursing care and innovation. Enrollment: NationwidePopular Online Healthcare Leadership Programs
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
CCNE
Online
RN Required
