Physician Assistant - Orthopedics Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Physician Assistant - Orthopedics in the United States is $130,032 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $146,357
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $120,268 to $138,577
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $111,378

Key Factors That Influence Physician Assistant - Orthopedics Salaries

A Physician Assistant - Orthopedics'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Physician Assistant - Orthopedics Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Physician Assistant - Orthopedics'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): $126,826
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $127,555
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $128,575
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,287
  • Expert (over 8 years): $132,838
Levels Salary
Entry Level Physician Assistant - Orthopedics$126,826
Intermediate Level Physician Assistant - Orthopedics$127,555
Senior Level Physician Assistant - Orthopedics$128,575
Specialist Level Physician Assistant - Orthopedics$130,287
Expert Level Physician Assistant - Orthopedics$132,838

How Do Physician Assistant - Orthopedics 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 - Orthopedics. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $143,971.
  • California: $143,425.
  • Massachusetts: $141,514.

Top Paying Cities for Physician Assistant - Orthopedics

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: $164,009
  • San Francisco: $162,214
  • Oakland: $158,795

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Collaboration (Mentioned in 4.31% Job Postings): Works cooperatively and shares ideas with coworkers and managers to achieve common goals and objectives.
  • Diagnostic Tests (Mentioned in 3.62% Job Postings): Intended to help teachers identify what students know and can do in different domains to support their students' learning. Also to determine what students understand in order to build on the students' strengths and address their specific needs.
  • Basic Life Support (Mentioned in 2.65% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Collaboration 4.31%
Diagnostic Tests 3.62%
Basic Life Support 2.65%

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 - Orthopedics's salary.

  • Emergency Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Occupational Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Psychiatric: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Emergency Medicine $163,840
26%
Occupational Medicine $146,936
13%
Psychiatric $145,636
12%

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

Physician Assistant - Orthopedics salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $137,928. While startup companies pay approximate $117,534.

Physician Assistant - Orthopedics Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $117,534
Growth Stage 51~500 $124,073
Established 501~5000 $133,417
Enterprise 5000+ $137,928

Physician Assistant - Orthopedics Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Physician Assistant - Orthopedics roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Physician Assistant - Orthopedics positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Physician Assistant - Orthopedics as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Physician Assistant - Orthopedics

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$143,035$69.010%

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

Understanding how a Physician Assistant - Orthopedics'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
$120,268
Average $130,032/year
$138,577
$10,022
Average $10,836/month
$11,548
$2,313
Average $2,501/week
$2,665
$58
Average $63/hour
$67
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $138,577 $11,548 $2,665 $67
Average $130,032 $10,836 $2,501 $63
25th Percentile $120,268 $10,022 $2,313 $58

Most common benefits for Physician Assistant - Orthopedics

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

Common company salaries for Physician Assistant - Orthopedics

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

Find Your Next Physician Assistant - Orthopedics Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Physician Assistant - Orthopedics job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Physician Assistant - Orthopedics

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

A Physician Assistant - Orthopedics'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 - Orthopedics earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Physician Assistant - Orthopedics is $164,009.

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

The highest pay for Physician Assistant - Orthopedics is $146,357.

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

The lowest pay for Physician Assistant - Orthopedics is $111,378.

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

Provides orthopedic 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. May assist in surgery. 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 - Orthopedics?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Physician Assistant - Orthopedics roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst