Physician Assistants Salary 2025: $138,339 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$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.
Physician Assistant (SOC 29-1071) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $138,339 across 101,270 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Geographic wage spread is wide: across the 70 cities reporting data, median Physician Assistant wages range from $105,440 to $223,640 — roughly 112% above the floor. The spread reflects cost-of-living, regional supply-and-demand, and industry-mix differences. Physician Assistant is in the Healthcare category — wages here reflect a regulated labor market with state-specific licensing and credentialing, which constrains supply more than it does in unregulated fields.
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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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Physician Assistant is $138,339 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $144,609. Salaries range from $105,440 to $223,640 depending on city and cost of living.
Physician Assistant salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $138,339, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 101,270 Physician Assistant positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Physician Assistant positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.