348 metro areas

Physician Assistant Salary by City (2026)

Physician assistants earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $207,670 a year, against $141,280 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($188,070 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $141,280BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $207,670San Jose, CA
Best after cost of living: $188,070San Jose, CA
Metro areas: 348With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for physician assistants

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Jose, CA$207,670
Salinas, CA$202,320
San Francisco, CA$182,600
Vallejo, CA$182,520
Bakersfield, CA$177,840
Yuba City, CA$174,990
Napa, CA$174,120
Santa Rosa, CA$171,930
Seattle, WA$170,140
Modesto, CA$168,960

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for physician assistants
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$207,670
Salinas, CA	$202,320
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$182,600
Vallejo, CA	$182,520
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$177,840
Yuba City, CA	$174,990
Napa, CA	$174,120
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$171,930
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$170,140
Modesto, CA	$168,960

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

San Jose, CA$207,670 nominal$188,070
Salinas, CA$202,320 nominal$185,540
Bakersfield, CA$177,840 nominal$176,280
Rochester, MN$157,160 nominal$173,040
Grants Pass, OR$165,760 nominal$169,560
Vallejo, CA$182,520 nominal$168,250
Yuba City, CA$174,990 nominal$167,880
Walla Walla, WA$164,510 nominal$166,980
Joplin, MO-KS$142,850 nominal$166,650
Waterloo, IA$145,040 nominal$166,600

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for physician assistants
Item	Value
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$188,070
Salinas, CA	$185,540
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$176,280
Rochester, MN	$173,040
Grants Pass, OR	$169,560
Vallejo, CA	$168,250
Yuba City, CA	$167,880
Walla Walla, WA	$166,980
Joplin, MO-KS	$166,650
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$166,600

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Physician Assistant salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Physician Assistant pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Jose, CA	$207,670	$130,460	$245,690	$188,070
2	Salinas, CA	$202,320	$136,550	$234,710	$185,540
3	San Francisco, CA	$182,600	$127,360	$209,830	$157,940
4	Vallejo, CA	$182,520	$129,380	$208,710	$168,250
5	Bakersfield, CA	$177,840	$127,610	$202,570	$176,280
6	Yuba City, CA	$174,990	$128,170	$198,040	$167,880
7	Napa, CA	$174,120	$123,470	$199,080	$154,700
8	Santa Rosa, CA	$171,930	$111,570	$201,680	$159,510
9	Seattle, WA	$170,140	$133,760	$188,070	$153,100
10	Modesto, CA	$168,960	$115,150	$195,460	$162,290
11	Stockton, CA	$166,570	$120,470	$189,280	$158,500
12	Grants Pass, OR	$165,760	$123,610	$186,490	$169,560
13	Wenatchee, WA	$165,550	$128,420	$183,830	$159,400
14	San Diego, CA	$165,440	$118,770	$188,450	$147,860
15	Walla Walla, WA	$164,510	$125,130	$183,890	$166,980
16	New York, NY-NJ	$163,570	$124,260	$182,940	$145,310
17	Los Angeles, CA	$163,340	$112,570	$188,340	$143,830
18	Hanford, CA	$161,700	$129,270	$177,650	$159,130
19	Visalia, CA	$160,640	$121,600	$179,860	$160,920
20	Riverside, CA	$160,390	$106,330	$187,010	$150,680
21	Portland, OR-WA	$160,140	$119,100	$180,340	$151,910
22	Fairbanks, AK	$159,680	$116,940	$180,710	$154,720
23	San Luis Obispo, CA	$159,640	$116,690	$180,790	$147,000
24	Chico, CA	$159,600	$124,130	$177,070	$157,710
25	Santa Cruz, CA	$159,560	$126,650	$175,760	$145,190
26	Barnstable Town, MA	$158,720	$124,340	$175,680	$161,380
27	Medford, OR	$157,290	$119,700	$175,820	$155,070
28	Rochester, MN	$157,160	$130,170	$170,460	$173,040
29	Olympia, WA	$156,560	$116,360	$176,380	$151,020
30	New Haven, CT	$156,420	$127,900	$170,460	$149,600
31	Corvallis, OR	$156,370	$125,840	$171,410	$150,330
32	Burlington, VT	$156,270	$123,450	$172,450	$154,800
33	Bellingham, WA	$155,980	$120,370	$173,530	$150,950
34	Sacramento, CA	$155,330	$96,240	$184,450	$145,620
35	Kennewick, WA	$155,310	$121,640	$171,890	$155,190
36	Urban Honolulu, HI	$153,840	$112,840	$174,030	$138,640
37	Gainesville, FL	$152,920	$114,190	$172,000	$158,080
38	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$152,440	$111,300	$172,700	$140,000
39	Eugene, OR	$152,110	$124,610	$165,650	$149,760
40	Lewiston, ME	$151,960	$121,060	$167,190	$160,400
41	Norwich, CT	$151,530	$113,840	$170,100	$150,860
42	El Centro, CA	$151,150	$117,080	$167,940	$158,810
43	Santa Maria, CA	$150,990	$106,770	$172,760	$138,780
44	Columbus, OH	$150,880	$99,800	$176,030	$158,040
45	Salem, OR	$150,880	$117,640	$167,250	$145,570
46	Spokane, WA	$150,510	$118,270	$166,400	$149,990
47	Oxnard, CA	$150,490	$116,500	$167,230	$136,150
48	Bremerton, WA	$150,430	$117,770	$166,500	$142,440
49	Binghamton, NY	$149,840	$118,120	$165,460	$161,360
50	Worcester, MA	$149,490	$109,970	$168,960	$145,810
51	Kiryas Joel, NY	$149,140	$109,510	$168,670	$136,300
52	Trenton, NJ	$148,970	$114,880	$165,780	$144,380
53	Fort Wayne, IN	$148,740	$115,840	$164,960	$160,670
54	Merced, CA	$148,620	$102,610	$171,290	$151,230
55	Springfield, MA	$148,180	$116,960	$163,550	$154,260
56	Bend, OR	$147,600	$120,660	$160,870	$142,460
57	Anchorage, AK	$147,510	$102,270	$169,790	$139,930
58	Boston, MA-NH	$147,510	$95,530	$173,120	$136,250
59	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$147,010	$118,600	$161,010	$140,250
60	North Port, FL	$146,740	$112,110	$163,800	$143,280
61	Bridgeport, CT	$146,470	$109,930	$164,490	$137,060
62	Fresno, CA	$146,160	$92,040	$172,810	$143,070
63	Redding, CA	$146,060	$115,610	$161,030	$145,070
64	Kingston, NY	$146,020	$115,650	$160,970	$144,990
65	Tucson, AZ	$145,500	$107,240	$164,340	$150,160
66	Cleveland, OH	$145,370	$107,850	$163,860	$154,780
67	Waterloo, IA	$145,040	$108,740	$162,910	$166,600
68	Waterbury, CT	$144,890	$112,150	$161,010	$145,210
69	Boulder, CO	$144,850	$114,550	$159,760	$137,690
70	Killeen, TX	$144,350	$123,970	$154,400	$158,400
71	San Antonio, TX	$144,100	$114,130	$158,850	$152,140
72	South Bend, IN-MI	$144,020	$110,660	$160,450	$155,100
73	Ithaca, NY	$143,850	$121,120	$155,060	$139,230
74	Duluth, MN-WI	$143,580	$118,270	$156,060	$161,750
75	Mankato, MN	$143,540	$124,950	$152,690	$157,810
76	Manchester, NH	$143,210	$118,680	$155,290	$135,540
77	Providence, RI-MA	$143,000	$107,970	$160,260	$140,510
78	Joplin, MO-KS	$142,850	$109,530	$159,270	$166,650
79	Hartford, CT	$142,730	$113,900	$156,940	$138,920
80	Iowa City, IA	$142,710	$118,930	$154,400	$155,950
81	Atlantic City, NJ	$142,560	$100,030	$163,510	$144,210
82	Salisbury, MD	$142,480	$115,860	$155,600	$149,010
83	Albany, OR	$142,360	$101,960	$162,260	$139,430
84	Pittsfield, MA	$142,270	$115,210	$155,580	$149,590
85	Lebanon, PA	$141,960	$104,960	$160,200	$152,290
86	Bozeman, MT	$141,670	$117,770	$153,440	$138,200
87	Lafayette, IN	$141,650	$100,260	$162,030	$151,610
88	Flagstaff, AZ	$141,400	$111,700	$156,020	$140,940
89	Charlottesville, VA	$141,360	$115,000	$154,340	$142,580
90	Yakima, WA	$141,360	$120,560	$151,610	$147,950
91	Austin, TX	$141,290	$115,790	$153,860	$144,080
92	Denver, CO	$141,070	$114,860	$153,960	$133,360
93	Las Vegas, NV	$140,860	$92,290	$164,800	$140,560
94	Janesville, WI	$140,840	$115,590	$153,250	$150,300
95	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$140,770	$106,410	$157,680	$163,540
96	Cedar Rapids, IA	$140,730	$108,390	$156,670	$158,190
97	Albany, NY	$140,610	$118,710	$151,380	$141,220
98	Phoenix, AZ	$140,520	$110,390	$155,380	$136,010
99	Kenosha, WI	$140,460	$117,730	$151,670	$138,910
100	Carson City, NV	$140,440	$89,150	$165,690	$143,120
101	Baltimore, MD	$140,170	$113,610	$153,280	$134,150
102	Sheboygan, WI	$140,090	$120,850	$149,570	$149,010
103	Greenville, NC	$139,940	$110,530	$154,420	$158,300
104	Utica, NY	$139,920	$114,210	$152,610	$150,970
105	Wildwood, FL	$139,920	$97,450	$160,850	$163,790
106	Amherst Town, MA	$139,820	$102,380	$158,250	$139,480
107	Crestview, FL	$139,800	$106,560	$156,170	$144,080
108	Houma, LA	$139,780	$115,190	$151,880	$164,250
109	Midland, TX	$139,340	$88,710	$164,260	$145,470
110	Appleton, WI	$139,150	$112,940	$152,070	$150,560
111	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$139,090	$103,460	$156,620	$135,630
112	Fond du Lac, WI	$138,840	$115,480	$150,340	$151,500
113	Farmington, NM	$138,820	$105,100	$155,420	$158,280
114	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$138,820	$113,670	$151,220	$147,410
115	St. George, UT	$138,780	$97,970	$158,870	$142,600
116	Prescott Valley, AZ	$138,590	$108,450	$153,420	$141,050
117	Staunton, VA	$138,570	$100,210	$157,460	$152,060
118	Billings, MT	$138,490	$119,120	$148,010	$148,080
119	Dover, DE	$138,400	$97,970	$158,310	$141,940
120	Fayetteville, NC	$138,400	$102,880	$155,900	$150,470
121	Milwaukee, WI	$138,400	$106,600	$154,090	$142,770
122	Champaign, IL	$138,360	$111,590	$151,550	$149,250
123	Great Falls, MT	$138,220	$117,920	$148,200	$142,720
124	Oshkosh, WI	$138,200	$117,270	$148,510	$148,720
125	Oklahoma City, OK	$138,050	$105,000	$154,340	$152,700
126	Des Moines, IA	$137,950	$103,210	$155,040	$150,430
127	Ann Arbor, MI	$137,840	$116,040	$148,570	$136,640
128	Colorado Springs, CO	$137,760	$112,090	$150,400	$136,790
129	Lawton, OK	$137,680	$107,830	$152,360	$160,200
130	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$137,630	$109,490	$151,510	$159,330
131	Grand Island, NE	$137,450	$104,060	$153,880	$158,610
132	St. Louis, MO-IL	$137,450	$92,870	$159,410	$144,550
133	Helena, MT	$137,340	$113,690	$148,990	$143,550
134	Eau Claire, WI	$137,200	$116,810	$147,220	$147,850
135	Miami, FL	$137,010	$97,410	$156,520	$120,020
136	Dayton, OH	$136,880	$106,200	$152,010	$147,670
137	Indianapolis, IN	$136,880	$111,590	$149,320	$143,040
138	Dallas, TX	$136,780	$106,580	$151,650	$132,680
139	Fort Collins, CO	$136,590	$107,740	$150,800	$135,070
140	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$136,550	$108,780	$150,240	$138,920
141	Davenport, IA-IL	$136,530	$106,520	$151,300	$153,270
142	Pueblo, CO	$136,450	$113,090	$147,950	$148,700
143	New Orleans, LA	$136,390	$114,030	$147,390	$147,290
144	Springfield, MO	$136,320	$105,190	$151,670	$153,890
145	Roanoke, VA	$136,220	$111,280	$148,510	$145,510
146	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$136,140	$110,010	$149,010	$157,470
147	Omaha, NE-IA	$135,930	$106,870	$150,240	$147,890
148	Durham, NC	$135,890	$110,030	$148,640	$139,270
149	Bangor, ME	$135,760	$113,030	$146,970	$140,670
150	Cape Coral, FL	$135,700	$103,500	$151,550	$132,590
151	Pinehurst, NC	$135,680	$108,760	$148,930	$153,600
152	Houston, TX	$135,660	$96,180	$155,110	$137,550
153	Jefferson City, MO	$135,660	$105,660	$150,400	$154,200
154	Saginaw, MI	$135,640	$104,150	$151,150	$149,230
155	Albuquerque, NM	$135,570	$87,690	$159,160	$141,890
156	Evansville, IN	$135,550	$105,980	$150,130	$148,100
157	Beaumont, TX	$135,490	$107,620	$149,220	$150,470
158	Tulsa, OK	$135,490	$97,680	$154,110	$151,870
159	Missoula, MT	$135,470	$108,060	$148,970	$140,460
160	Traverse City, MI	$135,320	$105,140	$150,180	$144,930
161	Fayetteville, AR	$135,260	$106,290	$149,530	$148,060
162	Naples, FL	$135,240	$101,750	$151,720	$131,050
163	Tampa, FL	$135,200	$96,620	$154,210	$134,010
164	Syracuse, NY	$135,050	$101,230	$151,720	$141,060
165	Shreveport, LA	$135,010	$111,720	$146,490	$159,270
166	Yuma, AZ	$134,990	$91,290	$156,500	$145,610
167	Blacksburg, VA	$134,870	$99,720	$152,170	$145,480
168	Kahului, HI	$134,350	$92,810	$154,790	$122,810
169	Kansas City, MO-KS	$134,350	$101,500	$150,510	$145,180
170	Columbus, IN	$134,330	$109,510	$146,540	$144,440
171	Corpus Christi, TX	$134,240	$105,810	$148,260	$144,860
172	St. Cloud, MN	$134,240	$106,750	$147,780	$153,190
173	Chicago, IL-IN	$134,180	$107,350	$147,390	$129,520
174	Jacksonville, FL	$134,100	$103,290	$149,260	$134,800
175	Fargo, ND-MN	$133,970	$88,150	$156,520	$147,430
176	Slidell, LA	$133,890	$114,090	$143,620	$144,390
177	McAllen, TX	$133,870	$104,640	$148,240	$155,850
178	Amarillo, TX	$133,790	$113,070	$143,980	$145,710
179	Monroe, LA	$133,790	$92,140	$154,320	$160,040
180	Ogden, UT	$133,700	$100,920	$149,820	$133,240
181	Asheville, NC	$133,680	$103,230	$148,660	$138,520
182	Athens, GA	$133,640	$93,660	$153,320	$143,170
183	Racine, WI	$133,600	$111,880	$144,310	$139,220
184	Wausau, WI	$133,540	$107,520	$146,350	$144,130
185	Elmira, NY	$133,490	$100,780	$149,610	$141,410
186	Provo, UT	$133,450	$100,920	$149,490	$135,850
187	Watertown, NY	$133,410	$103,920	$147,950	$152,140
188	Topeka, KS	$133,330	$105,000	$147,280	$150,110
189	Winston, NC	$133,140	$105,710	$146,640	$144,650
190	Peoria, IL	$132,850	$109,410	$144,390	$145,620
191	Rochester, NY	$132,770	$114,520	$141,750	$136,830
192	Deltona, FL	$132,680	$86,360	$155,500	$133,530
193	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$132,600	$87,340	$154,880	$153,010
194	Columbia, MO	$132,520	$102,500	$147,310	$148,170
195	Boise City, ID	$132,350	$105,120	$145,750	$134,510
196	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$132,350	$110,360	$143,170	$146,030
197	Detroit, MI	$132,290	$105,710	$145,370	$131,900
198	Grand Junction, CO	$132,100	$107,120	$144,410	$138,360
199	Orlando, FL	$131,770	$95,430	$149,680	$129,930
200	Muskegon, MI	$131,750	$116,500	$139,280	$142,400
201	Springfield, IL	$131,750	$101,710	$146,540	$142,060
202	Portland, ME	$131,600	$107,330	$143,540	$129,200
203	Salt Lake City, UT	$131,480	$96,800	$148,550	$130,350
204	Jackson, MI	$131,440	$105,440	$144,230	$143,210
205	Punta Gorda, FL	$131,440	$107,430	$143,270	$130,750
206	Alexandria, LA	$131,290	$88,030	$152,590	$153,220
207	Reading, PA	$131,290	$102,790	$145,330	$135,270
208	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$131,270	$105,890	$143,770	$152,840
209	Charlotte, NC-SC	$131,190	$98,030	$147,510	$134,760
210	Wilmington, NC	$131,140	$103,580	$144,710	$136,010
211	Greensboro, NC	$131,080	$104,540	$144,160	$141,150
212	Lafayette, LA	$131,080	$101,610	$145,600	$150,310
213	Glens Falls, NY	$130,770	$93,370	$149,180	$137,850
214	Battle Creek, MI	$130,620	$103,310	$144,060	$144,270
215	Brownsville, TX	$130,480	$98,050	$146,450	$151,770
216	Ocala, FL	$130,480	$96,840	$147,040	$137,010
217	Green Bay, WI	$130,370	$97,200	$146,700	$140,050
218	Twin Falls, ID	$130,370	$103,560	$143,580	$141,540
219	Greeley, CO	$130,080	$100,300	$144,770	$129,850
220	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$129,980	$98,680	$145,390	$139,650
221	Toledo, OH	$129,850	$102,860	$143,150	$141,980
222	Grand Rapids, MI	$129,810	$103,880	$142,600	$135,860
223	Rapid City, SD	$129,600	$104,640	$141,900	$145,360
224	Akron, OH	$129,540	$98,550	$144,810	$138,740
225	Madison, WI	$129,360	$88,730	$149,360	$132,970
226	Cheyenne, WY	$129,270	$94,740	$146,290	$133,970
227	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$129,080	$94,410	$146,160	$131,790
228	Kalamazoo, MI	$129,040	$106,560	$140,110	$136,060
229	Goldsboro, NC	$128,900	$98,970	$143,640	$145,710
230	Charleston, WV	$128,860	$91,060	$147,470	$145,250
231	Tallahassee, FL	$128,750	$100,130	$142,830	$137,090
232	Hot Springs, AR	$128,630	$104,810	$140,340	$150,040
233	Hickory, NC	$128,270	$101,940	$141,250	$144,960
234	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$128,250	$98,900	$142,710	$136,290
235	Rockford, IL	$128,190	$104,000	$140,130	$139,100
236	Longview, TX	$128,170	$100,420	$141,860	$143,230
237	Lubbock, TX	$128,020	$95,890	$143,870	$140,190
238	Abilene, TX	$128,000	$100,900	$141,360	$141,650
239	Tyler, TX	$127,880	$98,090	$142,560	$138,760
240	Pensacola, FL	$127,860	$89,150	$146,910	$130,850
241	Idaho Falls, ID	$127,840	$101,610	$140,750	$135,410
242	Lynchburg, VA	$127,800	$93,410	$144,730	$143,010
243	Lansing, MI	$127,770	$102,480	$140,210	$134,510
244	Spartanburg, SC	$127,770	$98,260	$142,310	$140,330
245	Lexington Park, MD	$127,750	$91,850	$145,430	$126,790
246	Raleigh, NC	$127,630	$106,850	$137,860	$130,030
247	Waco, TX	$127,630	$96,950	$142,750	$137,900
248	Richmond, VA	$127,590	$91,420	$145,410	$130,380
249	Buffalo, NY	$127,500	$98,950	$141,590	$133,030
250	Johnstown, PA	$127,380	$97,300	$142,210	$148,240
251	Harrisonburg, VA	$127,210	$89,750	$145,660	$134,060
252	Niles, MI	$127,210	$106,270	$137,530	$137,720
253	Wichita Falls, TX	$127,170	$97,990	$141,560	$142,070
254	Canton, OH	$127,110	$95,780	$142,540	$142,170
255	Palm Bay, FL	$127,110	$98,650	$141,130	$127,100
256	Flint, MI	$127,050	$97,930	$141,400	$136,560
257	Minot, ND	$126,880	$78,580	$150,650	$145,790
258	Savannah, GA	$126,860	$102,440	$138,880	$133,250
259	Beckley, WV	$126,820	$100,240	$139,900	$143,510
260	Bloomington, IN	$126,340	$100,300	$139,150	$132,870
261	Scranton, PA	$126,110	$100,010	$138,960	$134,800
262	Midland, MI	$126,030	$103,770	$136,990	$137,110
263	Pocatello, ID	$125,940	$93,890	$141,730	$141,660
264	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$125,800	$88,630	$144,120	$142,270
265	Parkersburg, WV	$125,740	$101,650	$137,590	$144,420
266	Las Cruces, NM	$125,570	$78,850	$148,600	$139,190
267	Morgantown, WV	$125,150	$95,890	$139,570	$134,100
268	Lima, OH	$125,050	$102,420	$136,220	$139,460
269	Dubuque, IA	$124,970	$94,390	$140,000	$143,100
270	Allentown, PA-NJ	$124,760	$91,960	$140,900	$124,800
271	Nashville, TN	$124,680	$102,690	$135,490	$129,420
272	Reno, NV	$124,470	$63,150	$154,690	$123,220
273	Youngstown, OH	$124,400	$99,550	$136,640	$142,340
274	Homosassa Springs, FL	$124,340	$98,760	$136,950	$133,030
275	Wheeling, WV-OH	$124,300	$96,970	$137,780	$140,730
276	Weirton, WV-OH	$124,280	$92,190	$140,090	$139,600
277	Santa Fe, NM	$124,160	$82,990	$144,440	$125,710
278	Lake Charles, LA	$124,110	$90,810	$140,500	$144,560
279	Sebastian, FL	$124,050	$93,970	$138,860	$126,190
280	Port St. Lucie, FL	$123,930	$90,880	$140,210	$123,650
281	Casper, WY	$123,820	$101,550	$134,780	$131,960
282	Lincoln, NE	$123,410	$95,450	$137,160	$134,760
283	Charleston, SC	$123,340	$94,080	$137,760	$122,160
284	Panama City, FL	$123,340	$93,850	$137,860	$126,770
285	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$122,760	$71,340	$148,080	$128,720
286	State College, PA	$122,700	$93,970	$136,840	$126,810
287	Lawrence, KS	$122,450	$106,390	$130,350	$135,690
288	Rocky Mount, NC	$122,370	$97,910	$134,410	$139,040
289	Jacksonville, NC	$122,200	$96,910	$134,660	$132,700
290	Hilton Head Island, SC	$122,010	$92,350	$136,610	$124,480
291	Wichita, KS	$121,910	$96,080	$134,620	$137,060
292	Myrtle Beach, SC	$121,700	$87,480	$138,550	$129,960
293	York, PA	$121,680	$90,270	$137,130	$126,750
294	Harrisburg, PA	$121,450	$87,960	$137,950	$123,110
295	Lancaster, PA	$120,990	$83,620	$139,400	$123,140
296	Gainesville, GA	$120,850	$92,100	$134,990	$124,890
297	Rome, GA	$120,720	$91,150	$135,280	$133,890
298	Gettysburg, PA	$120,680	$99,470	$131,120	$126,530
299	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$120,450	$97,430	$131,790	$130,670
300	Lakeland, FL	$120,390	$76,980	$141,770	$123,930
301	Altoona, PA	$120,220	$96,030	$132,140	$134,310
302	Baton Rouge, LA	$120,200	$79,120	$140,440	$132,410
303	Pittsburgh, PA	$120,080	$93,660	$133,080	$126,840
304	Clarksville, TN-KY	$119,790	$96,410	$131,310	$131,710
305	Winchester, VA-WV	$119,720	$76,860	$140,840	$124,130
306	Springfield, OH	$119,640	$93,930	$132,290	$132,230
307	Bismarck, ND	$119,620	$77,190	$140,500	$131,420
308	Paducah, KY-IL	$119,580	$79,730	$139,210	$138,910
309	Burlington, NC	$119,560	$103,130	$127,650	$128,290
310	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$119,560	$95,140	$131,580	$130,720
311	Logan, UT-ID	$119,370	$70,490	$143,460	$124,440
312	Texarkana, TX-AR	$119,100	$87,730	$134,560	$141,770
313	Lexington, KY	$118,930	$76,190	$140,000	$128,030
314	Dothan, AL	$117,920	$89,840	$131,730	$140,660
315	Williamsport, PA	$117,870	$82,620	$135,220	$127,630
316	Columbia, SC	$117,830	$89,880	$131,620	$125,800
317	Kingsport, TN-VA	$117,710	$92,890	$129,940	$136,160
318	Odessa, TX	$117,480	$64,980	$143,350	$125,120
319	Chambersburg, PA	$116,900	$92,640	$128,840	$123,520
320	Greenville, SC	$116,630	$71,880	$138,670	$125,060
321	Huntsville, AL	$116,600	$97,610	$125,960	$125,280
322	El Paso, TX	$116,170	$94,950	$126,610	$129,200
323	Macon, GA	$115,920	$73,420	$136,860	$130,940
324	Augusta, GA-SC	$115,460	$64,900	$140,380	$125,630
325	Daphne, AL	$114,770	$103,560	$120,310	$121,210
326	Florence, SC	$113,900	$78,790	$131,210	$131,260
327	Gulfport, MS	$113,710	$75,980	$132,310	$126,340
328	Mobile, AL	$113,570	$97,390	$121,530	$128,910
329	Erie, PA	$113,380	$92,190	$123,820	$124,660
330	Knoxville, TN	$112,760	$93,270	$122,350	$121,810
331	Albany, GA	$112,630	$73,240	$132,060	$128,470
332	Columbus, GA-AL	$112,590	$85,030	$126,150	$126,090
333	Terre Haute, IN	$112,530	$62,750	$137,030	$128,170
334	Jonesboro, AR	$111,680	$91,920	$121,410	$130,050
335	Laredo, TX	$110,950	$61,880	$135,100	$127,590
336	Mansfield, OH	$110,700	$65,040	$133,180	$124,560
337	Hattiesburg, MS	$110,090	$66,890	$131,350	$125,630
338	Montgomery, AL	$109,950	$94,740	$117,460	$122,600
339	Tuscaloosa, AL	$109,950	$93,910	$117,830	$125,340
340	Johnson City, TN	$109,080	$93,350	$116,810	$124,060
341	Little Rock, AR	$108,430	$73,030	$125,880	$121,340
342	Jackson, TN	$108,220	$88,340	$118,000	$126,540
343	Atlanta, GA	$108,080	$61,820	$130,870	$108,020
344	Birmingham, AL	$108,080	$73,070	$125,320	$117,930
345	Morristown, TN	$106,000	$85,550	$116,080	$122,740
346	Sebring, FL	$102,880	$38,730	$134,470	$111,260
347	Anniston, AL	$99,440	$85,010	$106,560	$115,700
348	Jackson, MS	$98,430	$51,360	$121,600	$110,540

More on physician assistants

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Physician Assistant salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays physician assistants the most?

San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $207,670 a year, followed by Salinas, CA ($202,320), San Francisco, CA ($182,600), Vallejo, CA ($182,520). The national mean is $141,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do physician assistants earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA ($188,070 at national prices, $207,670 nominal), Salinas, CA ($185,540 at national prices, $202,320 nominal), Bakersfield, CA ($176,280 at national prices, $177,840 nominal).

How much do physician assistants make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $163,570; Los Angeles, CA: $163,340; Chicago, IL-IN: $134,180; Dallas, TX: $136,780; Houston, TX: $135,660 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do physician assistants earn the least?

Of the 348 metro areas with their own estimate, Jackson, MS has the lowest mean wage, $98,430. At local prices that is worth $110,540.