Physician Assistants Salary 2025: $138,339 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
- Official U.S. BLS OEWS data (May 2025)
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- Not self-reported estimates
$138,339 per year is the national median annual wage for physician assistants (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $67/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $100,240 to $287,420. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 29-1071.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $138,339
- Median hourly wage
- $67/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $144,609
- Total US employment
- 101,270
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($223,640)
- BLS SOC code
- 29-1071
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
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The national median wage for physician assistants (BLS SOC 29-1071) is $138,339 per year — about $67/hour — across 101,270 workers in 70 U.S. metros in the BLS OEWS May 2025 release. The mean wage of $144,609 sits above the median, which means a minority of high earners pulls the average up — the median is the more honest benchmark for a typical offer.
Experience drives the range as much as anything: the 10th percentile earns $100,925 while the 90th earns $187,434 — a 1.9× gap from entry-level to the top of the field. Most physician assistants land in the $118,199–$165,771 band (25th–75th percentile), which is the right anchor when you size up an offer.
Location matters too. San Jose, CA, CA posts the highest median at $223,640, versus $105,440 in Birmingham, AL, AL — a 112% gap. But adjusted for cost of living, Bakersfield, CA delivers the strongest real purchasing power ($196,889 in national-average dollars), which can flip the nominal ranking for anyone weighing a move.
In Healthcare, physician assistant wages reflect a regulated labor market: state licensing and credentialing constrain supply, so pay holds up more evenly across regions than in unregulated fields. The figures here are base wage and exclude shift differentials and overtime.
Physician Assistants Salary by Experience Level (2025)
BLS OEWS doesn’t publish wages by years of experience, but its national percentile bands map cleanly to career stages. Here’s what physician assistants earn from entry-level to the top of the field.
| Career stage | Typical experience | BLS percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0–2 years | 10th | $100,925 |
| Junior / early-career | 2–5 years | 25th | $118,199 |
| Mid-career | 5–10 years | 50th (median) | $144,109 |
| Senior | 10–15 years | 75th | $165,771 |
| Top earners | 15+ years | 90th | $187,434 |
Experience bands are SalaryTruth’s interpretation of BLS OEWS percentiles, not a separate BLS series. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and region.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Physician Assistants salaries range from $105,440 to $223,640 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Physician Assistants Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $100,240 | $149,600 | $223,640 | $255,530 | $287,420 | $114,219 | 1,030 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $126,200 | $154,948 | $198,070 | $209,030 | $219,990 | $196,889 | 350 |
| San Francisco, CA | $106,150 | $137,442 | $184,380 | $211,180 | $237,980 | $102,661 | 1,830 |
| New York, NY | $124,470 | $141,742 | $167,650 | $187,325 | $207,000 | $89,557 | 16,800 |
| Seattle, WA | $130,820 | $145,408 | $167,290 | $193,130 | $218,970 | $111,975 | 1,920 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $77,310 | $112,582 | $165,490 | $194,750 | $224,010 | $135,204 | 1,020 |
| San Diego, CA | $109,750 | $131,914 | $165,160 | $189,865 | $214,570 | $103,096 | 1,370 |
| Portland, OR | $105,180 | $128,632 | $163,810 | $190,385 | $216,960 | $125,911 | 1,110 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $99,570 | $124,498 | $161,890 | $191,235 | $220,580 | $97,524 | 3,890 |
| Sacramento, CA | $72,440 | $108,052 | $161,470 | $193,435 | $225,400 | $129,487 | 1,070 |
| Fresno, CA | $64,400 | $100,816 | $155,440 | $180,845 | $206,250 | $147,336 | 360 |
| Anchorage, AK | $106,060 | $124,720 | $152,710 | $176,260 | $199,810 | $120,244 | 460 |
| Washington, DC | $108,030 | $124,098 | $148,200 | $180,975 | $213,750 | $96,990 | 3,020 |
| Spokane, WA | $114,400 | $127,668 | $147,570 | $171,635 | $195,700 | $151,509 | 350 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $106,540 | $122,084 | $145,400 | $172,025 | $198,650 | $105,745 | 940 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $109,190 | $123,526 | $145,030 | $164,275 | $183,520 | $136,563 | 2,340 |
| Boston, MA | $65,220 | $96,096 | $142,410 | $174,015 | $205,620 | $93,629 | 3,550 |
| San Antonio, TX | $113,840 | $124,368 | $140,160 | $170,900 | $201,640 | $153,180 | 650 |
| Providence, RI | $96,870 | $114,094 | $139,930 | $163,505 | $187,080 | $117,194 | 950 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $69,430 | $97,626 | $139,920 | $159,670 | $179,420 | $148,851 | 380 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $102,890 | $117,302 | $138,920 | $154,630 | $170,340 | $160,601 | 1,020 |
| Baltimore, MD | $110,190 | $121,630 | $138,790 | $155,665 | $172,540 | $121,532 | 1,660 |
| Hartford, CT | $99,470 | $115,154 | $138,680 | $155,905 | $173,130 | $123,162 | 1,460 |
| Albany, NY | $116,990 | $125,334 | $137,850 | $149,785 | $161,720 | $136,892 | 770 |
| Columbus, OH | $97,820 | $113,712 | $137,550 | $174,885 | $212,220 | $147,744 | 1,140 |
| Houston, TX | $90,920 | $109,448 | $137,240 | $152,740 | $168,240 | $142,218 | 2,390 |
| St. Louis, MO | $77,620 | $101,020 | $136,120 | $153,540 | $170,960 | $151,244 | 1,260 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $103,720 | $116,488 | $135,640 | $152,890 | $170,140 | $114,561 | 3,390 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $104,990 | $117,074 | $135,200 | $149,595 | $163,990 | $129,378 | 440 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $97,090 | $112,270 | $135,040 | $152,200 | $169,360 | $138,645 | 1,220 |
| Dallas, TX | $96,770 | $112,022 | $134,900 | $153,280 | $171,660 | $129,587 | 3,230 |
| Boise, ID | $97,310 | $112,306 | $134,800 | $147,460 | $160,120 | $132,027 | 650 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $65,060 | $92,900 | $134,660 | $156,865 | $179,070 | $123,541 | 650 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $106,860 | $117,976 | $134,650 | $154,285 | $173,920 | $133,714 | 3,050 |
| Austin, TX | $111,830 | $120,918 | $134,550 | $152,500 | $170,450 | $130,631 | 680 |
| Reno, NV | $46,290 | $81,594 | $134,550 | $153,965 | $173,380 | $126,338 | 300 |
| Denver, CO | $105,560 | $117,152 | $134,540 | $155,065 | $175,590 | $119,273 | 1,650 |
| Tulsa, OK | $59,290 | $89,326 | $134,380 | $156,250 | $178,120 | $154,816 | 350 |
| Omaha, NE | $106,690 | $117,666 | $134,130 | $151,265 | $168,400 | $146,111 | 720 |
| Madison, WI | $57,980 | $88,368 | $133,950 | $149,425 | $164,900 | $129,046 | 490 |
| Des Moines, IA | $99,990 | $113,526 | $133,830 | $161,345 | $188,860 | $143,441 | 340 |
| Kansas City, MO | $101,600 | $114,300 | $133,350 | $149,545 | $165,740 | $139,780 | 540 |
| Charlotte, NC | $99,610 | $113,022 | $133,140 | $151,180 | $169,220 | $137,684 | 1,680 |
| Miami, FL | $101,870 | $114,066 | $132,360 | $156,990 | $181,620 | $107,522 | 2,190 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $104,550 | $115,670 | $132,350 | $151,395 | $170,440 | $139,169 | 1,100 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $105,970 | $116,362 | $131,950 | $154,595 | $177,240 | $146,448 | 700 |
| Detroit, MI | $103,800 | $115,012 | $131,830 | $144,850 | $157,870 | $138,623 | 2,400 |
| Louisville, KY | $103,490 | $114,426 | $130,830 | $148,165 | $165,500 | $145,044 | 380 |
| Rochester, NY | $109,130 | $117,650 | $130,430 | $142,910 | $155,390 | $140,398 | 1,230 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $82,770 | $101,758 | $130,240 | $150,775 | $171,310 | $128,442 | 810 |
| Tucson, AZ | $99,760 | $111,808 | $129,880 | $168,280 | $206,680 | $136,143 | 290 |
| Nashville, TN | $104,990 | $114,614 | $129,050 | $139,915 | $150,780 | $128,664 | 750 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $68,300 | $92,388 | $128,520 | $153,820 | $179,120 | $140,921 | 920 |
| Chicago, IL | $105,160 | $114,272 | $127,940 | $146,070 | $164,200 | $119,236 | 3,050 |
| Tampa, FL | $98,530 | $110,246 | $127,820 | $150,750 | $173,680 | $128,333 | 1,420 |
| Orlando, FL | $82,060 | $100,116 | $127,200 | $152,900 | $178,600 | $123,375 | 1,200 |
| Richmond, VA | $93,040 | $106,548 | $126,810 | $149,330 | $171,850 | $124,202 | 620 |
| Buffalo, NY | $98,820 | $109,836 | $126,360 | $143,620 | $160,880 | $136,605 | 1,040 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $98,630 | $109,270 | $125,230 | $136,080 | $146,930 | $135,677 | 2,560 |
| New Orleans, LA | $108,740 | $115,076 | $124,580 | $146,820 | $169,060 | $129,906 | 400 |
| Raleigh, NC | $105,730 | $113,158 | $124,300 | $140,150 | $156,000 | $124,549 | 1,220 |
| Greenville, SC | $51,850 | $80,434 | $123,310 | $144,150 | $164,990 | $136,859 | 440 |
| Memphis, TN | $94,700 | $105,580 | $121,900 | $135,235 | $148,570 | $145,119 | 290 |
| Wichita, KS | $95,900 | $106,196 | $121,640 | $141,695 | $161,750 | $144,810 | 240 |
| Greensboro, NC | $102,590 | $109,770 | $120,540 | $154,740 | $188,940 | $132,026 | 420 |
| Lexington, KY | $52,010 | $76,098 | $112,230 | $149,725 | $187,220 | $122,924 | 300 |
| Atlanta, GA | $62,230 | $82,062 | $111,810 | $141,960 | $172,110 | $112,712 | 3,970 |
| Little Rock, AR | $49,970 | $73,626 | $109,110 | $127,540 | $145,970 | $123,707 | 340 |
| Knoxville, TN | $91,640 | $98,176 | $107,980 | $124,825 | $141,670 | $119,579 | 240 |
| Birmingham, AL | $59,500 | $77,876 | $105,440 | $134,535 | $163,630 | $116,637 | 280 |
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Physician Assistant & H-1B Prevailing Wage
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Physician Assistant is $138,339 as of 2025 (BLS OEWS). The national mean (average) is $144,609. Salaries range from $105,440 to $223,640 median depending on city and cost of living.
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) earn about $100,925 per year nationally. Pay rises with experience to a median of $138,339, $165,771 at the 75th percentile, and $187,434 for the top 10% of earners.
The median physician assistant earns about $67/hour, based on the $138,339 annual median over a standard 2,080-hour work year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
San Jose, CA, CA posts the highest median for Physician Assistant at $223,640, well above the national median of $138,339. Cost of living matters, though — see the COL-adjusted column in the city table above, which can reorder the rankings.
There are approximately 101,270 Physician Assistant positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey.
The 90th percentile physician assistant earns $187,434 — about 1.9× the $100,925 entry-level wage. A spread that wide signals real income growth potential with experience, specialization, and location.
No. BLS OEWS reports base wages only — bonuses, commissions, overtime, and equity are excluded. For roles where variable pay is common, total compensation runs above the figures shown here.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.