How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$135,880
Physician assistants in the U.S. earn a median of $135,880 a year, or $65.33 an hour. Half of physician assistants earn more than $135,880 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $190,280.
Pay percentiles for physician assistants
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47.78 | $99,380 |
| 25th | $58.02 | $120,670 |
| 50th (median) | $65.33 | $135,880 |
| 75th | $78.84 | $163,980 |
| 90th | $91.48 | $190,280 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 | $79.66 | +22% |
| California | $165,650 | $79.64 | +22% |
| Washington | $164,360 | $79.02 | +21% |
| Hawaii | $164,050 | $78.87 | +21% |
| New York | $160,880 | $77.35 | +18% |
| Oregon | $155,780 | $74.89 | +15% |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 | $72.58 | +11% |
| Alaska | $150,700 | $72.45 | +11% |
| Vermont | $150,490 | $72.35 | +11% |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 | $68.47 | +5% |
| United States | $135,880 | $65.33 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many physician assistants are there?
BLS counts about 162,150 physician assistants employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in New York (19,140), California (13,600) and Texas (10,110).
The mean (average) annual wage is $141,280, higher than the median of $135,880.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $11,323
- Biweekly
- $5,226
- Weekly
- $2,613
- Daily (8 hours)
- $523
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour?
The median hourly wage for physician assistants is $65.33. The middle 50% earn between $58.02 and $78.84 an hour.
Which state pays physician assistants the most?
New Jersey has the highest median wage for physician assistants at $165,690, +22% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for physician assistants?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of physician assistants earn less than $99,380 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.