Physician Assistant - Medical Salary in the United States

How much does a Physician Assistant - Medical make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Physician Assistant - Medical in the United States is $124,269 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $60.

However, a Physician Assistant - Medical's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $139,870
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $114,938 to $132,435
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $106,443

Key Factors That Influence Physician Assistant - Medical Salaries

A Physician Assistant - Medical's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Physician Assistant - Medical Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Physician Assistant - Medical's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $121,205
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $121,484
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $124,878
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,291
  • Expert (over 8 years): $128,535
Levels Salary
Entry Level Physician Assistant - Medical$121,205
Intermediate Level Physician Assistant - Medical$121,484
Senior Level Physician Assistant - Medical$124,878
Specialist Level Physician Assistant - Medical$128,291
Expert Level Physician Assistant - Medical$128,535

How Do Physician Assistant - Medicals Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Physician Assistant - Medicals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $137,591.
  • California: $137,069.
  • Massachusetts: $135,242.

Top Paying Cities for Physician Assistant - Medical

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $156,740
  • San Francisco: $155,024
  • Oakland: $151,757

What Skills Can Increase a Physician Assistant - Medical's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 6.34% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Basic Life Support (Mentioned in 2.74% Job Postings): BLS is a level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until they can be given full medical care by advanced life support providers. It can be provided by trained medical personnel.
  • Front Office (Mentioned in 2.32% Job Postings): The front office represents the customer-facing division of a firm. For example, customer service, sales, and industry experts who provide advisory services are considered part of a firm's front office operations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 6.34%
Basic Life Support 2.74%
Front Office 2.32%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Physician Assistant - Medical's salary.

  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • EHR: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Effective Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation $136,696
10%
EHR $134,211
8%
Effective Communication $129,240
4%

Physician Assistant - Medical Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Physician Assistant - Medical salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $131,815. While startup companies pay approximate $112,325.

Physician Assistant - Medical Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $112,325
Growth Stage 51~500 $118,574
Established 501~5000 $127,504
Enterprise 5000+ $131,815

Physician Assistant - Medical Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Physician Assistant - Medical roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Physician Assistant - Medical positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Physician Assistant - Medical as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Physician Assistant - Medical

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$149,123$72.020%

How Education impacts an Physician Assistant - Medical's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Physician Assistant - Medical enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Physician Assistant - Medical with a Bachelor's Degree is between $117,101 and $122,828.

Physician Assistant - Medical Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Physician Assistant - Medical
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.0%
High School 2.6%
Associates 2.2%
Bachelors 22.8%
Masters 70.5%
Doctorate 1.9%

Physician Assistant - Medical Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Physician Assistant - Medical's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$114,938
Average $124,269/year
$132,435
$9,578
Average $10,356/month
$11,036
$2,210
Average $2,390/week
$2,547
$55
Average $60/hour
$64
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $132,435 $11,036 $2,547 $64
Average $124,269 $10,356 $2,390 $60
25th Percentile $114,938 $9,578 $2,210 $55

Most common benefits for Physician Assistant - Medical

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Physician Assistant - Medical

Here are companies hiring for Physician Assistant - Medical and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Physician Assistant - Medical

1. Where can a Physician Assistant - Medical earn the most?

A Physician Assistant - Medical's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Physician Assistant - Medical earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Physician Assistant - Medical is $156,740.

2. What is the highest pay for Physician Assistant - Medical?

The highest pay for Physician Assistant - Medical is $139,870.

3. What is the lowest pay for Physician Assistant - Medical?

The lowest pay for Physician Assistant - Medical is $106,443.

4. What are the responsibilities of Physician Assistant - Medical?

Provides care to patients under the supervision of a physician. Conducts medical histories and physical exams, diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, and develops treatment plans. Orders and interprets diagnostic tests and laboratory work. Writes progress notes, conducts patient education, writes prescriptions, and provides advice about various health issues. Requires a master's degree in health sciences for physician assistants. Requires Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C). Requires State License to practice. Typically reports to a physician. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Physician Assistant - Medical?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Physician Assistant - Medical roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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