The 10 Best Cities for PAs to Move to in 2025

Updated: March 31, 2025

The Booming PA Job Market

In its latest ranking of best healthcare jobs, U.S. News and World Report has once again placed physician assistants near the top of the list - ranking PAs as the #2 healthcare job and the #4 best job overall in America for 2025. This recognition reflects the growing importance and demand for PAs in today's healthcare landscape, as reported in their March 2025 rankings.

PAs are not just in high demand—they're experiencing one of the most robust job markets in all of healthcare. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data, approximately 153,400 PAs are currently working in the United States. They enjoy excellent compensation, with a median salary that has now reached $130,020. The highest-paid 25% of PAs earned over $151,720, showcasing the lucrative potential of this career path.

What's even more impressive is the projected growth rate for the profession. Physician assistants are expected to experience significant job growth of 28% between 2023 and 2033, dramatically outpacing the average growth rate for all occupations, which hovers around just 3%. This translates to approximately 39,300 new PA positions being created across the United States in the coming years.

What's driving this exceptional demand? A report from the Bureau of Health Workforce projects a shortage of over 57,000 full-time physicians by 2025, increasing to 81,800 by 2035. As healthcare systems struggle with these physician shortages, PAs are stepping in to fill critical gaps in patient care, particularly in primary care settings.

The PA hiring landscape also varies significantly by region. Our analysis of hiring data across all 50 states reveals fascinating patterns that can guide your career decisions in 2025. For instance, in Connecticut—home to our #1 ranked city—50.2% of employers are actively recruiting PAs, with 25.4% reporting positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months. This indicates both high demand and potential hiring challenges that could benefit job seekers with competitive salaries and incentives.

So, what are the best cities for physician assistants to live in 2025? To answer this question comprehensively, we've partnered with Indeed, one of our top 10 best websites for PA job searches, to analyze the metro areas with the most job listings for physician assistants. We've combined job availability data with salary information from Indeed and Salary.com, while also factoring in housing affordability metrics from Zillow.

Here are the best US cities for PAs to live in 2025

10. New York, NY

This urban mecca has no shortage of physician assistant jobs, but at an impressive annual salary of $135,175, the Big Apple is still the least affordable place to live on the list. For PAs specializing in surgical roles, the compensation can be even more attractive, with surgical PAs commanding an average of $133,030 nationwide as of March 2025. This premium may help offset the high cost of living for specialists in the city.

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 10.3% (Ranked 3rd)
• Average annual salary: $135,175 (Rank 2nd)
• Median home price: $763,240
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 15.3% (Rank 10th)
• Median annual rent: $39,000
• Rent as a percentage of income: 38% (Rank 10th)

9. Orlando, FL

While "The City Beautiful" comes in ninth for average annual PA salary, its solid percentage of job openings for physician assistants gives Orlando a boost when compared to the rest of the country. Orlando's growth aligns with the trend of higher-population states like Florida offering increasing opportunities for PAs, particularly in in-demand specialties like family practice, hospitalist roles, and urgent care.

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 8.7% (Rank 5th – tie)
• Average annual salary: $112,656 (Rank 10th)
• Median home price: $378,415
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 31% (Rank 5th)
• Median annual rent: $20,796
• Rent as a percentage of income: 20% (Rank 7th)

8. Baltimore, MD

Another city with above-average physician assistant job openings compared to the rest of the country, Baltimore continues to be a hot city for PAs. With Maryland reporting 42% of employers actively recruiting PAs and the ongoing physician shortage projected to exceed 57,000 nationwide by 2025, Baltimore's exceptional salary-to-housing ratio (60%) makes it particularly attractive for professionals seeking financial stability.

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 9.5% (Rank 4th)
• Average annual salary: $121,918 (Rank 5th)
• Median home price: $190,890
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 53% (Rank 1st)
• Median annual rent: $17,796
• Rent as a percentage of income: 15.5% (Rank 6th)

7. Riverside, CA

Riverside is a prime spot for physician assistants, where the average salary of $130,035 is higher than the national median salary reported by the BLS. This places Riverside PAs well within the upper compensation range nationally, where the median is now $130,020 and the top 25% earn over $151,720. U.S. News & World Report California continues to be a leader in PA employment opportunities.

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 6.3% (Rank 7th)
• Average annual salary: $130,035 (Rank 4th)
• Median home price: $650,854
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 19.5% (Rank 8th)
• Median monthly rent: $1,138
• Rent as a percentage of income: 10.6% (Rank 5th)

5. Philadelphia, PA (tie)

Philadelphia tied for the smallest share of jobs among the top ten with 5.9 percent. The average annual salary of $129,178 isn't the highest on the list. But Philadelphia is relatively affordable to live in for a big city, coming in third place on the affordability of homes. Pennsylvania's strong showing on this list reflects the state's commitment to utilizing PAs to address healthcare gaps, with 37.4% of employers actively recruiting these professionals.

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 5.9% (Rank 8th – tie)
• Average annual salary: $129,178 (Rank 3rd)
• Median home price: $218,079
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 40.6% (Rank 3rd)
• Median annual rent: $17,160
• Rent as a percentage of income: 14.39% (Rank 9th)

5. Charlotte, NC (tie)

With an above-average salary for physician assistants compared to the rest of the country, Charlotte is the largest of the three North Carolinian cities to make our list. Charlotte exemplifies why North Carolina has become a PA employment powerhouse, with metropolitan areas offering substantial opportunities across multiple specialties including family practice, pediatrics, and orthopedic surgery

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 5.9% (Rank 8th – tie)
• Average annual salary: $118,658 (Rank 8th)
• Median home price: $386,760
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 32% (Rank 6th)
• Median annual rent: $16,464
• Rent as a percentage of income: 15% (Rank 8th)

4. Raleigh, NC

Is this another Raleigh vs. Durham flame war? Both cities rank exceptionally well for average annual salary and rent affordability, but Durham slightly edges Raleigh this time. The Research Triangle region benefits significantly from the projected 28% growth in PA positions between 2023 and 2033, creating a continuous stream of new opportunities in this healthcare-rich corridor.

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 8.7% (Rank 5th – tie)
• Average annual salary: $119,270 (Rank 7th)
• Median home price: $435,232
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 27% (Rank 7th)
• Median annual rent: $14,520
• Rent as a percentage of income: 13.5% (Rank 4th)

3. Pittsburgh, PA

The Pittsburgh metro area might not have the highest-paying salary on the list ($120,493), but the cost of housing is very affordable, coming in third place for both apartments and homes. As healthcare facilities work to address the growing physician shortage, Pittsburgh's combination of academic medical centers and affordable living makes it increasingly attractive to PAs seeking work-life balance.

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 5.9% (Rank 8th – tie)
• Average annual salary: $120,493 (Rank 3rd)
• Median home price: $219,884
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 42.5% (Rank 3rd)
• Median annual rent: $14,700
• Rent as a percentage of income:  13.4% (Rank 1st)

2. Durham, NC

Is there any doubt that North Carolina is the best state for PAs? Durham earns the number two spot by the sheer number of job openings for physician assistants, making up 22.5 percent of openings within the top ten. Durham's exceptional performance confirms wider observations that North Carolina has become a national leader in PA employment, particularly with growing demand for specialties like cardiology and general surgery among travel PA positions.

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 22.5% (Rank 1st)
• Average annual salary: $118,414 (Rank 9th)
• Median home price: $391,000
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 30.7% (Rank 9th)
• Median annual rent: $14,700
• Rent as a percentage of income: 11.7% (Rank 3rd)

1. Hartford – West Hartford – East Hartford, CT

Greater Hartford is an all-around strong choice for physician assistants, performing especially well on job availability and housing affordability. That $131,503 average annual salary will truly go a long way here. Connecticut's top position is reinforced by statewide data showing 50.2% of employers actively recruiting PAs, making it one of the hottest markets in the country for these healthcare professionals in 2025.

• Percent share of job listings (rounded): 16.2% (Rank 2nd)
• Average annual salary: $131,503 (Rank 1st)
• Median home price: $179,170
• Salary as a percentage of home price: 43.5% (Rank 3rd)
• Median annual rent: $12,000
• Rent as a percentage of income: 11.5% (Rank 2nd)

Additional Analysis and Insights

Looking beyond the top 10 cities, our state-by-state analysis reveals some compelling trends in PA hiring across the country:

• Growing Retirement Wave: Alaska (12.7%), North Dakota (13.4%), and New Mexico (12%) have the highest percentages of PAs planning to retire within the next five years, potentially creating significant opportunities for new graduates in these states.
• Unfilled Position Hotspots: Alaska (38.1%), New Mexico (37.2%), and Montana (34.7%) lead the nation in positions remaining unfilled for at least six months, suggesting these areas may offer competitive compensation and relocation packages to attract talent.
• Most Active Hiring Markets: The District of Columbia (51.3%), Connecticut (50.2%), and New York (47.2%) have the highest percentages of employers actively recruiting PAs, indicating robust job markets with numerous opportunities.

When considering your next career move as a PA in 2025, these hiring trends combined with our city rankings provide a comprehensive picture of where your skills may be most valued and compensated.

Considering an even bigger PA career change. How about going international?

Stephen Pasquini PA-C Physician Assistant

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life, Smarty PANCE Board Review, and PASchoolfinder websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and to foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

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