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The median annual salary for physician assistants is $133,260 per year, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is significantly more (about twice) the average pay of all jobs in the U.S. as of January 30, 2026.
Working as a physician assistant can be a fulfilling way to have a career in the medical industry without having to spend as much time or money on school as a doctor. Like doctors, physician assistants stand to make a lot of money and can save on tuition costs since they typically only need a master’s degree to work in this role.
Keep reading to learn more about what physician assistants do and how much money they make.
Key Points
• A physician assistant (PA) examines, diagnoses, and treats patients under a physician’s supervision.
• The projected growth over 2024-2034 is about 20%, which is well above the average for most professions.
• An entry-level physician assistant might make $99,380 a year, while the highest-earning ones can make at least $190,280 annually.
• In addition to their competitive pay, physician assistants typically have employee benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Although physician assistants have a salary well over the national average, they typically need a master’s degree, which could lead to student loan debt.
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What Are Physician Assistants?
A physician assistant is capable of performing a lot of tasks a medical doctor would perform, such as conducting patient examinations, diagnosing illnesses, and delivering treatments. They complete their work under physician supervision, and their day-to-day responsibilities can include tasks such as:
• Obtaining and reviewing medical histories
• Ordering diagnostic tests
• Prescribing medications
• Collaborating with health care teams
A physician assistant can specialize in a specific health care field, such as primary care, emergency medicine, and psychiatry, which can affect their job responsibilities.
As mentioned above, these individuals typically have a master’s degree, which is usually a requirement for licensing. However, you don’t need to go to and pay for medical school.
Job opportunities are likely to be plentiful. The projected growth over 2024-2034 is 20%, which is very well above the single-digit average for most professions.
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How Much Do Starting Physician Assistants Make a Year?
Like with any career, it takes time to earn a high salary when working as a physician assistant. When a physician assistant is entry-level, their salary may compare with the lowest 10% of earners in this role, who make $99,380 or less, but there’s a lot of room for improvement here.
The highest 10% of earners make more than $190,280. In other words, it’s indeed possible to earn $100,000 a year.
What is the Average Salary for a Physician Assistant?
The answer to the question, “How much money does a physician assistant make?” can vary depending on where a physician assistant works. Some jobs will pay more due to location. The following table illustrates the average salary for this role in each state, and a quick glance makes it clear that there’s a lot of variance in pay by state. For example, a physician assistant in Washington makes $46,318 more on average than someone in this role in Florida, which is quite a gap.
The table below shares how much a physician assistant job pays both by state and by different rates, including hourly pay, from highest to lowest.
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What Is the Average Physician Assistant Salary by State for 2026
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $136,152 | $11,346 | $2,618 | $65.46 |
| New York | $131,516 | $10,959 | $2,529 | $63.23 |
| Massachusetts | $131,287 | $10,940 | $2,524 | $63.12 |
| Alaska | $129,462 | $10,788 | $2,489 | $62.24 |
| Vermont | $127,816 | $10,651 | $2,458 | $61.45 |
| North Dakota | $127,194 | $10,599 | $2,446 | $61.15 |
| Oregon | $127,099 | $10,591 | $2,444 | $61.11 |
| Colorado | $126,405 | $10,533 | $2,430 | $60.77 |
| Hawaii | $124,896 | $10,408 | $2,401 | $60.05 |
| Nevada | $122,413 | $10,201 | $2,354 | $58.85 |
| New Jersey | $122,044 | $10,170 | $2,347 | $58.67 |
| Wisconsin | $121,337 | $10,111 | $2,333 | $58.34 |
| Pennsylvania | $120,501 | $10,041 | $2,317 | $57.93 |
| Delaware | $120,316 | $10,026 | $2,313 | $57.84 |
| South Dakota | $120,212 | $10,017 | $2,311 | $57.79 |
| Virginia | $119,181 | $9,931 | $2,291 | $57.30 |
| California | $118,638 | $9,886 | $2,281 | $57.04 |
| Minnesota | $117,737 | $9,811 | $2,264 | $56.60 |
| Rhode Island | $117,725 | $9,810 | $2,263 | $56.60 |
| New Hampshire | $116,907 | $9,742 | $2,248 | $56.21 |
| Maryland | $116,671 | $9,722 | $2,243 | $56.09 |
| New Mexico | $116,495 | $9,707 | $2,240 | $56.01 |
| Illinois | $116,489 | $9,707 | $2,240 | $56.00 |
| Maine | $116,389 | $9,699 | $2,238 | $55.96 |
| Wyoming | $115,551 | $9,629 | $2,222 | $55.55 |
| Nebraska | $114,616 | $9,551 | $2,204 | $55.10 |
| Indiana | $114,390 | $9,532 | $2,199 | $55.00 |
| Connecticut | $114,356 | $9,529 | $2,199 | $54.98 |
| Ohio | $114,285 | $9,523 | $2,197 | $54.94 |
| Mississippi | $113,849 | $9,487 | $2,189 | $54.74 |
| Idaho | $113,107 | $9,425 | $2,175 | $54.38 |
| Iowa | $112,911 | $9,409 | $2,171 | $54.28 |
| Missouri | $112,760 | $9,396 | $2,168 | $54.21 |
| Arizona | $112,024 | $9,335 | $2,154 | $53.86 |
| Texas | $111,996 | $9,333 | $2,153 | $53.84 |
| South Carolina | $111,552 | $9,296 | $2,145 | $53.63 |
| Oklahoma | $110,996 | $9,249 | $2,134 | $53.36 |
| Montana | $110,336 | $9,194 | $2,121 | $53.05 |
| Utah | $109,438 | $9,119 | $2,104 | $52.61 |
| North Carolina | $109,249 | $9,104 | $2,100 | $52.52 |
| Tennessee | $109,107 | $9,092 | $2,098 | $52.46 |
| Alabama | $108,959 | $9,079 | $2,095 | $52.38 |
| Kansas | $107,211 | $8,934 | $2,061 | $51.54 |
| Michigan | $104,776 | $8,731 | $2,014 | $50.37 |
| Kentucky | $104,408 | $8,700 | $2,007 | $50.20 |
| Louisiana | $102,796 | $8,566 | $1,976 | $49.42 |
| Georgia | $101,505 | $8,458 | $1,952 | $48.80 |
| Arkansas | $99,404 | $8,283 | $1,911 | $47.79 |
| West Virginia | $93,065 | $7,755 | $1,789 | $44.74 |
| Florida | $89,834 | $7,486 | $1,727 | $43.19 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Physician Assistant Job Considerations for Pay and Benefits
It’s very common to work full-time as a physician assistant, which typically means that in addition to competitive pay, these professionals gain access to employer-sponsored benefits.
These may include:
• Health insurance
• Retirement plans
• Paid sick days
• Paid vacation
The tradeoff for a great compensation package can be having to work long hours or be on call. In addition, you may be exposed to medical emergencies, which can be stressful, and germs.
In addition, a career as a physician assistant requires much interaction with patients and the other members of the medical team. For this reason, it may not be a top choice as a job for antisocial people.
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Pros and Cons of Physician Assistant Salary
The main advantage of a physician assistant salary is that it’s well over the national average for all jobs, which is $64,505 as of May 30, 2026. As you have seen, a physician assistant can possibly make twice that amount.
This high take-home pay may make it easier to create and stick to a monthly budget.
The only real downside of this salary is that to earn it, a master’s degree is necessary, which could lead to student loan debt.
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The Takeaway
Building a career as a physician assistant can lead to making a high salary of $133,000-plus on average, or more than $190,280 for the top 10% of earners in this role. Many find this career path preferable to becoming a doctor, as it requires spending a lot less time in school, and the degree requirements come with a much lower sticker price. It’s also a fulfilling role for those who enjoy helping others.
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FAQ
Can you make 100K a year as a physician assistant?
It’s very possible to earn $100,000 a year or more as a physician assistant. The median annual salary for this job is $133,260, and only the bottom 10% of earners in this specific role make less than $99,380.
Do people like being a physician assistant?
Those who are passionate about the medical field and who enjoy working with people tend to get a lot of job satisfaction from working as a physician assistant. However, an introvert may dislike how social this job requires them to be.
Is it hard to get hired as a physician assistant?
The good news for prospective physician assistants is that there are plenty of job openings to be found in this field, with a rapid growth of 20% from 2024-2034. And there’s an average projection of approximately 12,000 job openings annually.
What factors can affect a physician assistant’s salary?
A physician assistant’s salary can vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, specialty, and employer. Those who work in higher-paying states or specialized areas of medicine may earn significantly more than the national median salary.
What are the benefits of becoming a physician assistant?
Becoming a physician assistant can provide strong earning potential, job stability, and the opportunity to make a difference in patients’ lives. The role also typically requires less schooling and lower educational costs than becoming a physician while still offering many clinical responsibilities.
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