Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants typically earn $135,880 a year in the United States, and about 162,150 work in the field. Employment is projected to grow 21.1% from 2025 to 2035 (BLS).
$135,880
Typical pay a year
+21.1%
Job growth 2025–35
11,500
Openings a year
162K
Employed in the US
BLS OES May 2025 · projections 2025–35
What is in this guide
Each part of the physician assistant guide has its own page. Start with the figure you came for.
Salary
$135,880 typical · 51 states, 465 metrosPay by state, metro, and work settingHow to become
Training, exam, first jobThe steps to becoming a Physician AssistantPrograms and schools
289 colleges, 12,956 graduates in 2024Every college by state, from NCES IPEDSCertification
Requirements by stateExams, certifying bodies, and verificationCareer path
Medical Assistant $45,690 → Physician Assistant $135,880Each step up and what it paysJobs
11,500 openings a yearWhere the jobs are, by setting and stateInterview
Questions and answersWhat hiring managers ask Physician AssistantsResume
Guide and sample layoutHow to lay out a Physician Assistant resumeHow much do physician assistants make?
Typical Physician Assistant pay is $135,880 a year across the United States. Among the ten states that employ the most physician assistants, it ranges from $165,690 in New Jersey to $115,390 in Georgia. See all 51 states and 465 metro areas.
| State | Typical pay a year | Vs national $135,880 | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 | +22% | 4,790 |
| California | $165,650 | +22% | 13,600 |
| New York | $160,880 | +18% | 19,140 |
| Texas | $134,550 | -1% | 10,110 |
| Ohio | $132,090 | -3% | 4,900 |
| Michigan | $131,510 | -3% | 6,310 |
| Florida | $129,620 | -5% | 9,310 |
| North Carolina | $129,360 | -5% | 7,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $127,070 | -6% | 9,020 |
| Georgia | $115,390 | -15% | 5,610 |
BLS OES May 2025 · the ten states with the most physician assistants, ranked by typical pay
What does each step pay?
Physician Assistant career path →BLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay, United States
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