Click here to view the table.
What capital city should you move to if you want the highest median Physician Assistant salary in the United States?
I will give you a hint, this city has banned "happy hour" since 1984.
What capital city should you move to if you want the lowest median physician assistant salary in the US? Hint, the state only has 11 inhabitants per square mile and is one of five states not served by an interstate highway.
The most recent data from the Bureau of labor statistics reports the median annual wage for physician assistants was $104,860 per year ($50.41 per hour). The lowest 25 percent earned less than $78,220, and the top 25 percent earned more than $131,066
Compare this to the 2018 AAPA Census data which report the median Physician Assistant Salary to be $106,860 per year ($60.00 per hour). While PAs in California have the highest median salary of $118,000, PAs in Kentucky, Iowa, and Mississippi have some of the highest cost-adjusted median wages in the nation.
As you can see in the table below there has been a slow and steady increase in PA salaries over time.
According to the 2018 AAPA Salary and Compensation Report, the median annual wages for physician assistants in the top industries in which these PAs worked were as follows:
- Hospitals (Non teaching) $110,000
- University Hospital $103,000
- Outpatient care centers $102,000
- Offices of health practitioners (solo practice) $98,900
- Government $103,000
- Physician practice: Multispecialty group $101,750
- Physician practice: Single specialty group $100,000
- Federally Qualified Health Center $100,000
- Certified Rural Health Clinic $97,500
- Community health clinic $95,500
- Physician Solo practice $93,000
The least profitable place for a PA to work is for a physician solo practice, community health clinic or certified rural health center. Those receiving the highest salary work as independent contractors or work for non-healthcare related corporations.
Physician Assistant Salary Comparison Table: by State and Capital City (Updated March 11, 2019)
*The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Salary data is from salary.com - you can read more about their methodology here. Click on the corresponding links below see the most updated salary information for the particular region.
STATE + CAPITAL | 25% | MEDIAN | 75% | Cost Adjusted |
Alabama, Montgomery | $78,220 | $93,514 | $103,099 | $102,011 |
Alaska Juneau | $105,894 | $115,045 | $126,837 | $89,869 |
Arizona, Phoenix | $95,321 | $103,558 | $114,473 | $106,354 |
Arkansas, Little Rock | $89,408 | $97,134 | $107,090 | $109,300 |
California, Sacramento | $104,759 | $113,812 | $125,478 | $91,965 |
Colorado, Denver | $97,284 | $105,691 | $116,525 | $99,142 |
Connecticut, Hartford | $104,041 | $113,032 | $124,648 | $88,456 |
Delaware, Dover | $102,498 | $111,356 | $122,770 | $98,325 |
Florida, Tallahassee | $87,250 | $94,790 | $104,506 | $103,762 |
Georgia, Atlanta | $94,744 | $102,931 | $113,482 | $112,111 |
Hawaii, Honolulu | $100,295 | $108,962 | $120,131 | $69,257 |
Idaho, Boise | $91,272 | $99,159 | $109,323 | $115,548 |
Illinois, Springfield | $88,789 | $96,462 | $106,350 | $96,297 |
Indiana, Indianapolis | $93,533 | $101,615 | $112,031 | $115,578 |
Iowa, Des Moines | $92,446 | $100,434 | $110,729 | $118,498 |
Kansas, Topeka | $89,935 | $97,707 | $107,722 | $105,249 |
Kentucky, Frankfort | $87,876 | $95,470 | $105,256 | $119,874 |
Louisiana, Baton Rouge | $88,492 | $96,139 | $105,994 | $104,874 |
Maine, Augusta | $91,045 | $98,913 | $109,052 | $89,387 |
Maryland, Annapolis | $101,898 | $110,704 | $122,051 | $91,278 |
Massachusetts, Boston | $109,424 | $118,880 | $131,066 | $85,874 |
Michigan, Lansing | $94,187 | $102,326 | $112,815 | $114,879 |
Minnesota, St. Paul | $102,450 | $111,303 | $122,712 | $112,228 |
Mississippi, Jackson | $96,248 | $104,566 | $115,284 | $117,098 |
Missouri, Jefferson City | $92,970 | $101,004 | $111,357 | $111,070 |
Montana, Helena | $80,950 | $87,945 | $96,960 | $107,874 |
Nebraska, Lincoln | $90,339 | $98,146 | $108,206 | $111,857 |
Nevada, Carson City | $96,967 | $105,346 | $116,145 | $103,103 |
New Hampshire, Concord | $99,276 | $107,855 | $118,910 | $89,824 |
New Jersey, Trenton | $108,703 | $118,097 | $130,202 | $94,254 |
New Mexico, Santa Fe | $90,906 | $98,762 | $108,886 | $105,181 |
New York, Albany | $98,343 | $106,841 | $117,792 | $79,832 |
North Carolina, Raleigh | $90,906 | $98,762 | $108,886 | $111,157 |
North Dakota, Bismarck | $89,666 | $97,414 | $107,399 | $104,942 |
Ohio, Columbus | $94,899 | $103,099 | $113,667 | $110,149 |
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City | $91,224 | $99,107 | $109,266 | $113,468 |
Oregon, Salem | $95,341 | $103,580 | $114,197 | $102,871 |
Pennsylvania, Harrisburg | $93,658 | $101,751 | $112,181 | $93,974 |
Rhode Island, Providence | $101,873 | $110,676 | $122,021 | $95,948 |
South Carolina, Columbia | $90,349 | $98,156 | $108,217 | $104,874 |
South Dakota, Pierre | $79,844 | $86,743 | $95,635 | $98,636 |
Tennessee, Nashville | $89,146 | $96,850 | $106,777 | $110,200 |
Texas, Austin | $94,754 | $102,943 | $113,495 | $116,098 |
Utah, Salt Lake City | $91,239 | $99,124 | $109,284 | $107,759 |
Vermont, Montpelier | $94,081 | $102,211 | $112,688 | $95,142 |
Virginia, Richmond | $96,439 | $104,773 | $115,512 | $102,042 |
Washington, Olympia | $99,006 | $107,562 | $118,587 | $106,812 |
West Virginia, Charleston | $87,626 | $95,198 | $104,957 | $108,598 |
Wisconsin, Madison | $94,658 | $102,838 | $113,379 | $106,996 |
Wyoming, Cheyenne | $87,270 | $94,812 | $104,530 | $106,301 |
Are you looking for salary data to lean on while negotiating a new or existing contract?
Or maybe, you're doing reconnaissance to assess your future earnings if you do decide to pursue a career as a physicians assistant?
So many factors dictate your base salary and should be taken into consideration when you are in contract negotiations with your employer or while discussing a pay raise.
Some Factors That Determine Base Salary
- Is your place of work in a remote or less desirable location?
- Are you looking at salary data adjusted for cost of living?
- Do you have to take call or work on weekends?
- Do you have a lot of support or are you flying solo?
If the employer does not offer the highest salary are there other benefits worth considering such as a great healthcare or retirement package? Or better yet, does the work line up with your personal goals as a healthcare practitioner?
At my last job, we had a high hourly wage coupled with a lackluster family health care plan and a poor retirement benefits package. After being swayed to sign on the dotted line by a higher than average salary offering the mid-levels across the organization were red-lined for the next 4 years. Sadly, we lost a number of very talented practitioners because of this.
A poor benefits package may seem like "no big deal" if you are tempted with the allure of a high salary, but be careful, a high salary with poor benefits can be fools gold, especially when it comes to long-term employment, dependent health care coverage or retirement planning.
I predict we will continue to see a rise in median pay (especially in specialty practice). When I look at PA salary compared to nursing salary in my home State of California, for example, it seems the sky is the limit. But be forewarned, there are always trade-offs; such as longer hours, mandatory call or the addition of weekends.
Make sure to check the average salaries in your region and be open to salary discussions with your colleagues.
I am well aware that nothing is more miserable than having a salary comparison talk. You are either going to be paid more which makes you a target, less which will make you angry, or the same which can make you angry or happy depending on the circumstances.
Keep in mind, this is not about comparisons, it is about mid-levels being on the same page, I am a believer that we are stronger when united which will benefit the profession as a whole.
Resources:
I am currently a CST and have been trained by different doctors to be their first assist without going to school or being compensated. I am looking into becoming a surgical PA or NP. Which would be better for me?
Surgical PA without a doubt!
Stephen
Hi Stephen ! Thank you for posting this great article. I am currently halfway through college and getting my B.S degree. I am also planning on applying to PA school soon once my Undergraduate education is complete. I’ve been doing some research on requirements for applying to PA school and I see that I need to obtain a few thousand hours of patient care experience before applying. Do you have any recommendations for jobs where I can gain patient care hours with minimal prior experience and that does not require years of additional education to be qualified for the job? Thank you in advanced !
Hi Thayanne,
Have you looked into medical scribing?
Hello,
Am Sandra a first degree holder in Applied physics, i want to continue my studies in either optometry or Physician Assistant, i have the passion for both but i do not know which one to go for.
kindly help me out of my confusion
Stephen! Thank you for doing this site! I am currently an MA working for a family practice, by the time I graduate college I will have the clinical hours equivalent of 4-5 years full time. I am finishing my bachelors degree in nutritional science. I would love to ask you what are some extra things that I could do to stand out for PA school?
Hi Victoria,
I think it is wonderful that you are working and gaining health care experience while completing your undergraduate coursework. This is the path I took and I think it is smart. One thing I would recommend is to find any and all opportunities you can to expand upon your current experience base. This could be at your current place of employment – for example if there is a chance to work in different positions – such as medical scribe or perform other duties such as blood draws. Take these opportunities or ask for them. I would also recommend (if you can) using the summers to find other experience such as volunteering overseas or locally as part of a medical group providing free services (of course it could be anything). Volunteer in the hospital or nursing home, reach out and help anyone you can in need. These experiences are not only good for you as a human but prove you are in it for all the right reasons. If you have a foreign language requirement take Spanish… You can integrate this in your volunteer activities as well… it will not only help you as an applicant but also as a professional. Find opportunities to work with PAs when you can… Challenge yourself in school… you will do great!
Stephen
can biochemist degree holder do masters in physician assistant
Of course Steven,
You can apply with any degree, the important part is whether you have completed the prerequisite coursework and have the healthcare experience, GRE, letters of recommendation, etc. etc. Get all your ducks in a row and go for it!
Stephen
What are some online programs you are aware of? How many years does a PA attend schooling?
How do I know if I can be a P.A.? How do I know if it’s right for me? How difficult is the education required for P.A.’s. I know anyone can do anything if they really believe in themselves and want to, but I’m worried about starting this journey, only to fail midway.
Hi Seola,
The best way to figure out if a profession is going to be a good fit for the long run is to jump in, get your feet wet and decide if health care is really something you are passionate about. Are you a people person? Do you like science and medicine? Do you like figuring out problems? Do you mind some blood and vomit from time to time? Can you handle long, strenuous hours without breaks? Etc. etc. etc. If you are not already working in healthcare, you should be, and trust me, you will likely know right away if this is something you can see yourself doing. The schooling is tough, but so is anything worthwhile… We are all afraid of failure, but don’t let fear stop you from reaching your full potential. There is a saying I love: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you are probably right”. There are no guarantees in life, other than the guarantee that regret is 2x more painful than failure and that life is short, we are all going to die and the little things that seem so big are truly trivial in the scheme of things. Don’t be afraid to bet on yourself!
Stephen Pasquini PA-C
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Hello. This is very helpful, thank you. I see from your bio that you were a National Health Service Corps Scholar. I am applying to PA school and looking to provide care in underserved communities. If admitted to PA school, I will be applying to the NHSC. My question is, do you have any ideas about the projected salary for PAs serving in NHSC-approved sites? I assume it is lower than the “primary care” averages I see out there.
Hi Erin,
This is a tough question to answer. When I graduated my NHSC scholar salary was much lower than most of my colleagues working in the same field. That being said, I was only the second PA hire at the time and the clinic I was working for was just figuring out mid level compensation. After a few years I was very well compensated and this had no relation to my scholarship.
That being said, on their Q&A page this is what the NHSC has to say:
Q: Is my salary equivalent to or greater than a civilian employee of the U.S. government practicing with the same discipline/specialty?
A: You can find the most current salary information in the NHSC Participant Income Reference Guide. http://www.nhsc.hrsa.gov/currentmembers/loanrepaymentrecipients/faqs/participantsalaryreferenceguide.pdf
As you can see the compensation listed here is (I hate to say it) abysmal. In my experience, even new hires over recent years were making double that number and they were part of the NHSC loan repayment program. I would expect to be paid what is comparable for that region – based on living costs and general PA compensation in the area.
That has been my experience, but it likely depends on the site and the region.
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
Another NHSC salary question for you. Over the lifetime of a scholar’s career, does being an NHSC scholar set them up for lower earnings as compared to non-scholar peers? That is, if I start out earning half what other PAs in the same field are making, will my income growth continue to trail behind? Or, will my income become comparable to those of my peers after I finish my service? Thanks!
In my experience, my NHSC scholarship and the work experience I received as a new graduate has opened up many doors and opportunities and in no way has limited my salary or potential lifetime earnings.
Stephen
Hi I love your article, I am student in college aspiring to become a PA after I achieve my B.A. I would love if you could email me so I can ask a few questions. [email protected]
Hi Sarah,
Feel free to post your questions here or drop me a line in the contact section.
Stephen