How Much Do Physician Assistants Make? (2023)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
How Much Do Physician Assistants Make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that physician assistants make a median annual income of $121,530 or $58 per hour. The lowest 10% of physician assistants earned less than $77,940 and the highest 10% earned more than $164,620.
Do Physician Assistants Get Paid Well?
Physician Assistants are paid well—they earn more than the average worker in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for physician assistants is $121,530 per year. This is 189% more than the average salary for all occupations, which is $45,760.
How Much Do Physician Assistants Make Starting Out?
The BLS does not provide average compensation data for entry-level positions for physician assistants just starting out, but the bottom 25% of physician assistants earn $99,880 each year according to the BLS.
How Many Physician Assistants Are There In The United States?
In 2021, there were 129,400 physician assistants in the United States. The BLS predicts the number of physician assistants will increase by 31%, approximately 40,100 jobs, by 2030.
Where Can Physician Assistants Earn The Most?
Physician Assistants' salaries depend on location and work setting. According to the BLS, physician assistants earn the most in the following industries: offices of physicians, general medical and surgical hospitals and outpatient care centers. The metropolitan areas with the highest pay for physician assistants are:
- Portsmouth, NH-ME - $167,240
- Panama City, FL - $165,000
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA - $164,150
How Much Do Physician Assistants Earn In Each State?
The table below compares physician assistants salaries across states and U.S. territories (Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wages May 2020). You can also find data for the number of physician assistants in each state as well as the number of physician assistants per 1,000 jobs—a figure that can help you determine the job's popularity in a given location. Not all locations have salary and employment statistics.