Physician Assistant Salary Report [2026]

If you’ve chosen a career as a Physician Assistant, then you probably already know that it’s one of the most secure and lucrative jobs in the country. In 2026, we’re seeing a "perfect storm" of an aging population, a persistent physician shortage, and a new era of clinical autonomy that is pushing PA compensation to heights we haven't seen before.

Whether you’re a new grad weighing your first offers or a seasoned vet wondering if you’re being underpaid, the data is clear: the floor for PA pay has risen, and the ceiling is practically disappearing. In this guide, we’re breaking down the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to show you exactly where the money is, from the highest-paying coastal cities to the surprising specialties that are currently out-earning the rest.

Ready to see how your paycheck stacks up? Let’s dive into the data.

Physician Assistant Salaries in the U.S.

• Overview of Physician Assistant salaries in the United States
• Key insights about PA salaries
• What type of PA gets paid the most?
• Top paying states for Physician Assistants
• Top paying cities for Physician Assistants
• How much do PAs earn based on types of employers?
• What is the job outlook for Physician Assistants?
• How do Physician Assistant earnings compare to other providers?
• Can you make $200,000 as an PA?
• Interested in higher rates and a more flexible schedule?

Overview of Physician Assistant salaries in the United States

According to the latest BLS data, the average full-time PA is bringing home $133,260 a year, or roughly $64.07 per hour. But for those in the 90th percentile, the "heavy hitters" of the profession are clearing around $182,200. With over 162,700 permanent roles across the U.S., the demand for PAs is clearly not slowing down.

The largest employers are Ambulatory Health Care Services (employing 101,950 PAs according to the BLS), followed by Offices of Physicians (82,260). New York, California, Florida, and Texas together employ 33% of the Physician Assistant workforce. 

A quick note before we dig deeper: All the data in this post comes straight from the BLS (May 2024), so you're getting real, current trends instead of estimates or guesswork.

Key insights about PA salaries

• National average: $133,260 per year ($64.07/hour)
• Top 10% earn: $182,200+
• Highest-paying state: California / $161,980 on average
• Hottest metro: Salinas, CA / $206,750 ($99.40/hour)
• Lowest-paying state: Arkansas / $93,880 on average
• Top employers: Temporary Help Services / $161,290
• Also high-paying: Administrative and Support Services / $159,830
• Job growth outlook: 20% growth through 2034

What type of PA gets paid the most?

Temporary Help Services (staffing agencies) are the highest-paying employers, with permanent roles averaging $161,290. If you’re looking for a specific pin on the map to target, the top-tier earners aren't just in California. In fact, some of the highest recorded 90th percentile wages are found in Worcester, MA ($236,530) and the state of New Mexico ($223,250). These "salary hotspots" often occur where high demand meets a shortage of specialized providers.

By clinical specialty, the AAPA highlights three stand outs that consistently lead the pack:

• Cardiovascular/Cardiothoracic Surgery: The undisputed king of PA pay, often due to high-acuity cases and intense hours.
• Dermatology: A high-margin field where PAs often benefit from a mix of medical necessity and lucrative cosmetic procedures.
• Emergency Medicine: High-speed, high-stress, and high-reward.

Of course, some PAs reach the $200k mark the old-fashioned way: overtime. Online communities are full of stories of PAs trading their weekends for a massive financial boost. Interestingly, some are doing the opposite by using their high earning power to "buy back" time, with some reporting they’ve dropped to 30 hours a week while still maintaining a six-figure lifestyle.

But if you want to increase your earning potential exponentially without burning out on overtime, there is one major factor the standard BLS data often misses: Locum Tenens.

Derived from the Latin for "to hold the place of," locum tenens refers to temporary, contract-based employment. These PAs step into organizations during staffing gaps or patient surges. Because the need is urgent, the pay is significantly higher than permanent roles.

Let’s dive into how locum tenens can help you take control of both your schedule and your bank account.

Do locum tenens PAs earn more? 

Yes! The math behind the locum tenens pay bump is simple: premium demand equals premium pay. Because healthcare facilities often use locums to fill critical staffing gaps or manage patient surges, they are willing to pay significantly higher hourly rates than a standard permanent salary offers. While a staff PA might be locked into a set salary regardless of how many late nights they stay, locum PAs typically earn between $100 and $150+ per hour (depending on specialty and location). If you were to work those hours full-time, your annual take-home could easily soar past the $200,000 mark, well above the national average for permanent roles.

Beyond just the base rate, locum tenens offers a "financial agility" that permanent roles can't match. You have the leverage to negotiate higher pay for hard-to-fill shifts, weekend work, or assignments in high-demand areas like Alaska or rural California. Plus, with travel, housing, and licensing fees typically covered by the staffing agency, your "out-of-pocket" cost of living drops while your income climbs. Whether you're looking to crush your student loans in record time or build a massive retirement nest egg, locum tenens is the ultimate "cheat code" for PA earnings.

Top paying states for Physician Assistants

• Bottom line: The West Coast is winning, but New England and the Mid-Atlantic are making a serious play for the top spot.

California remains the undisputed heavyweight champion for PA compensation, with an average salary of $161,980 or roughly $77.88 per hour. But the Pacific dominance doesn't stop at the California border. Both Washington ($156,060) and Oregon ($152,160) round out the top three, proving that the "West Coast bump" is a very real phenomenon for Physician Assistants.

Don't overlook the Atlantic side of the map, though. The Northeast is home to some of the most competitive PA markets in the country New York leads the pack in terms of pure opportunity, employing over 19,000 PAs with a healthy average salary of $151,280. New Jersey ($149,160) and Rhode Island ($148,290) are right on its heels, offering top-tier compensation within a relatively small geographic footprint.

Perhaps the most interesting entry in the top ten is New Mexico, where PAs earn an average of $144,080. While it may not have the name recognition of New York or California, New Mexico offers a unique combination of high demand and a significantly lower cost of living, meaning your six-figure salary might actually buy you more house and more "life" than it would in San Francisco.

Top paying cities for Physician Assistants

• Bottom line: California dominates the list.

Nine out of the top ten highest-paying metropolitan areas in the country are located in the Golden State. The clear standout is Salinas, CA, which holds the title of the highest-paying city in our report. With an average annual salary of $206,750, Salinas is the only metro where the average PA is already a member of the $200k club. At an hourly rate of $99.40, you’re nearly hitting triple digits for every hour on the clock.

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara follows closely, coming in at $198,370. While the cost of living in Silicon Valley is notoriously high, the compensation for PAs is clearly designed to compete for top talent in the heart of the tech world. Napa and Vallejo also cross the $170k threshold, proving that Northern California remains a powerhouse for healthcare earnings.

The only city to break the California blockade is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA. Coming in at $163,000, Seattle offers a competitive alternative for those who want a top-tier paycheck without the California income tax.

How much do PAs earn based on types of employers?

• Bottom line: Moving from a local government role to a specialized agency can boost your salary by over $30,000.

If you're looking to maximize your earnings, the data points clearly toward specialized and temporary services. Temporary Help Services lead the pack with an average salary of $161,290, proving that facilities are willing to pay a massive premium for flexibility and immediate clinical support. Closely following are Administrative and Support Services ($159,830) and Employment Services ($158,340), which often involve high-level oversight or specialized consulting roles.

The public sector offers a unique range. While the Federal Executive Branch offers a very competitive average of $157,380, local government roles (excluding schools and hospitals) tend to sit at the lower end of the spectrum. It’s a trade-off: public service often comes with excellent benefits and loan forgiveness options, but the highest raw "take-home" pay is almost always found in the private or agency-based sector.

On the flip side, some environments consistently report lower averages. If you're working in Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories or Offices of Chiropractors, you may find the salary ceiling is a bit lower than in a high-acuity surgical center or a fast-paced outpatient clinic. These roles often offer more predictable hours, but the trade-off is reflected in the paycheck.

What is the job outlook for Physician Assistants?

• Bottom line: With a 20% growth rate and 12,000 annual openings, PA job security looks very strong for the next decade.

The BLS projects a staggering 20% growth for Physician Assistants through 2034, much larger than the national average for all occupations. With roughly 12,000 job openings projected every single year, the challenge for the next decade won't be finding a job but rather deciding which high-paying offer to accept.

This surge is driven by a "perfect storm" in healthcare: an aging Baby Boomer population requiring more complex care and a nationwide physician shortage that has made PAs the indispensable backbone of modern clinics..

How do Physician Assistant earnings compare to other providers?

• Bottom line: PAs are firmly established in the "high-earner" tier of healthcare, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Pharmacists and significantly out-earning the broader nursing and therapy fields.

In the healthcare ecosystem, Physician Assistants occupy an enviable financial sweet spot. While they aren't quite reaching the specialized heights of Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), PAs are consistently at the top of the mid-to-high level provider bracket.

There is a thin margin between the three major roles in the $130k+ club. Pharmacists ($137,210) currently hold the slimmest lead, followed by Physician Assistants at $136,900. While Nurse Practitioners ($132,000) trail slightly in the national averages, all three roles represent the backbone of high-earning clinical care.

The data also highlights the massive return on investment for those choose the PA path over nursing, as PAs earn roughly $38,470 more per year than Registered Nurses (RNs). PAs also earn more than double the average salary of Physical Therapist Assistants ($57,990), underscoring the high premium placed on the advanced prescriptive and diagnostic authority that comes with the PA license.

Can you make $200,000 as a PA?

Absolutely. In Salinas, CA, that $200k mark isn't just for the top performers; it’s the average for the entire city. But even outside of California, high-achievers are hitting this milestone across the country. In fact, top-tier earners in seven of the ten highest-paying states are already clearing $200,000 annually.

Your choice of specialty is the biggest "multiplier" for your income. If you want to fast-track your way to the $200k club, the data points to high-acuity and procedural fields: Cardiovascular & Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dermatology & Aesthetics, and Emergency Medicine & Urgent Care.

The most direct route to a $200,000+ income, however, is often through locum tenens. Locum PAs command significantly higher hourly rates, often ranging from $100 to $150+ per hour.

Because these roles are designed to fill urgent gaps, the compensation reflects that "on-call" value. Many PAs use locum tenens to:

• Supplement their primary income: Joining the 47% of physicians who use temporary work to add a massive side-cushion to their bank accounts.
• Fast-track student loan repayments.
• Fund major life purchases or travel.
• Test-drive a high-paying city before committing to a permanent move.

Interested in higher rates and a more flexible schedule?

As we’ve seen, PA salaries vary widely depending on geography, specialty, and setting, but why stop at the permanent job board ceiling? Locum tenens advanced practitioners can earn more than 3x the national average for permanent PA roles, all while building a career around their lifestyle. Whether you’re looking to eliminate the commute, stack shifts for a sabbatical, or simply command the compensation your skill set deserves, locums work redefines what’s possible.

If you’re ready to explore assignments that actually fit your life (and pay you what you’re worth), Locumly is your connection. We specialize exclusively in placing APPs into high-paying, flexible locum tenens roles across the country. 

Reach out today to start a conversation about where you want to go, how often you want to work, and what you want to earn.