Physician Assistant

Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living. Avg Entry (P10) $78950 Avg Median $146204 Avg Senior (P90) $231002 Coverage 288 U.S. cities Key Findings What the data reveals 1 National median Physician Assistant salary: $146,204 (2026) 2 Entry (P10): $78,950 → Senior (P90): $231,002 — a $152,052 career spread 3 Highest-paying city: Sunnyvale, California at $267,120 4 Top-paying state: California with $176,999 average across 61 cities 5 $162,540 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities 6 Coverage: 288 U.S. cities across 46 states — sourced from BLS OEWS data Physician Assistant salary landscape in 2026 Think of this page as a pay transparency report the industry doesn't publish. The national median salary for Physician Assistants in 2026 is $146,204, with entry-level positions averaging $78,950 and senior roles reaching $231,002. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $267,120, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture. Positioned in Healthcare within the broader Healthcare industry, Physician Assistants typically hold Master's in PA. The employment landscape is shaped by very high demand, and the day-to-day is clinical. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below. $162,540 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Physician Assistant in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $267,120 — $162,540 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($104,580). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math. Entry, median, and senior pay The three-tier salary picture for Physician Assistants in 2026: $78,950 at entry (P10), $146,204 at midpoint, and $231,002 at the senior end (P90). Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The $152,052 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $65,837 above the national median household income of $80,367. Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $249,480, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $105,420. The $144,060 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates. Geographic Premium A Physician Assistant in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $267,120 — $162,540 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($104,580). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. $152,052 gap between entry and senior pay The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Physician Assistant is $78,950, while senior-level (P90) earners average $231,002. That $152,052 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver. California leads states with $176,999 median California pays the highest average median salary for Physician Assistants at $176,999 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $155,610) is $21,389. At the 90th percentile, Physician Assistants pull in an average of $231,002. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field. Where Physician Assistant pay goes furthest The state salary map for Physician Assistants: California at $176,999, Massachusetts at $171,045, Hawaii at $170,100 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($105,840), Ohio ($110,670), Iowa ($110,880) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $71,159. When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($267,120 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $126,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move. Cost-adjusted Physician Assistant salary rankings Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most. Career economics for Physician Assistants: entry level averages $78,950, mid-career hits $146,204, and experienced professionals reach $231,002. That's a 2.9× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Master's in PA, and the work is clinical. The outlook: very high demand. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math. Frequently Asked Questions What is the average Physician Assistant salary in 2026? The weighted national median salary for Physician Assistants is $146,204 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $78,950, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $231,002. Where do Physician Assistants get paid the most? The highest-paying city for Physician Assistants is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $267,120. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($267,120), Santa Clara ($249,480), Irvine ($231,840). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power. Where is the lowest Physician Assistant salary? The lowest median Physician Assistant salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $104,580. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living. How much does an entry-level Physician Assistant make? Entry-level Physician Assistants (10th percentile) average $78,950 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $144,245. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary. How much can a senior Physician Assistant earn? At the 90th percentile (senior level), Physician Assistants average $231,002 nationally — $152,052 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Physician Assistants can earn up to $422,050. Which states pay Physician Assistants the most? The top-paying states for Physician Assistants are California ($176,999 median), Massachusetts ($171,045 median), Hawaii ($170,100 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally. What education do you need to become a Physician Assistant? The typical education path for a Physician Assistant involves Master's in PA. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically clinical. Is Physician Assistant a good career for 2026? With a national median of $146,204 and representation across 288 metro areas, Physician Assistant offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $152,052 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand. Where does this salary data come from? All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities. Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation. State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available. #J-18808-Ljbffr