How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make in Alaska in 2026?
Typical pay for Physician Assistants in Alaska, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Alaska · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical Physician Assistant in Alaska earns about $72.45 per hour, or $150,700 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $12,558 a month and $2,898 a week, based on the annual figure. These figures describe pay across the whole state, before experience or city differences come into play.
That pay sits 11% above the national figure of $135,880 a year ($65.33 an hour) for the same role, and it ranks Alaska 8th among the 51 states and territories tracked in the data. About 700 Physician Assistants work in the state, compared with roughly 162,150 nationwide. The gap over the national figure amounts to real money each year, not a rounding difference.
Physician Assistant pay in Alaska at a glance
- In Alaska, Physician Assistants typically earn $72.45 an hour ($150,700 a year), per government wage data from May 2025.
- That pay runs 11% above the national figure of $135,880, placing Alaska 8th among the 51 states and territories measured.
- Fairbanks pays Physician Assistants the most in Alaska, with typical pay of $164,910 a year.
- Entry-level Physician Assistants in Alaska start around $106,060 a year, while the top 10% make over $201,270.
- Pay has climbed 38% over the past decade, rising from $109,110 in 2015 to $150,700 in 2025.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physician Assistant make in Alaska?
Physician Assistant pay by career stage in Alaska
| Career stage | Alaska | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $106,060$50.99 an hour | $99,380$47.78 an hour |
| First years | $126,530$60.83 an hour | $120,670$58.02 an hour |
| Typical Physician Assistant | $150,700$72.45 an hour | $135,880$65.33 an hour |
| Experienced | $169,930$81.70 an hour | $163,980$78.84 an hour |
| Top 10% | $201,270$96.76 an hour | $190,280$91.48 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
Physician Assistant pay by experience level in Alaska
Entry-level positions for Physician Assistants in Alaska typically offer around $50.99 an hour, or about $106,060 a year, according to the same 2025 wage data. Pay at this level reflects new graduates and recent hires still building clinical experience. Within a few years, most see pay move toward the state's typical figure of $150,700 a year as they take on more responsibility.
Experienced Physician Assistants in Alaska often earn upwards of $81.70 an hour, close to $169,930 a year, and the top 10% make over $96.76 an hour, or $201,270 a year. That leaves a spread of $95,210 between entry-level and top pay in the state. Setting, years of practice, and which city someone works in all play into where a given salary lands within that range.
Physician Assistant pay growth in Alaska
Typical (median) annual wage for Physician Assistants in Alaska · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
Alaska's Physician Assistant pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $109,110 in 2015 to $150,700 in 2025. That is a gain of $41,590, or 38%, over ten years. The rise was not perfectly steady; pay dipped slightly in 2021 and again in 2024 before climbing to its current level.
That 38% rise matches the national decade increase for the same role, which also grew 38% over the same ten years. Pay for Physician Assistants in Alaska has moved up consistently rather than in one large jump, and there is no reason to expect that trend to reverse or accelerate. Anyone starting out now enters a role whose pay has grown steadily, though nothing about the past guarantees future gains.
Physician Assistant salary by city in Alaska
Pay runs highest in the Fairbanks area, where Physician Assistants typically earn $164,910 a year ($79.28 an hour) across about 70 workers, covering the full Fairbanks metro area including College. That figure sits 9% above the statewide typical pay of $150,700. Fairbanks and College share identical wage data in this survey, reflecting how closely tied their labor markets are.
Anchorage pays less by comparison, with typical pay of $152,710 a year ($73.42 an hour) across its metro area, a difference of $12,200 from the top city. Anchorage is also home to the largest Physician Assistant workforce in the state, with 460 employed there. Pay differences between Alaska cities are modest next to differences in the cost of living, and a lower figure in a given city usually tracks lower everyday costs.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Alaska | Physician Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks metro incl. College | $164,910 | $79.28 | +9% | 70 |
| 2 | Anchorage | $152,710 | $73.42 | +1% | 460 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Alaska typical pay $150,700
Is Alaska a good state for Physician Assistants?
Physician Assistants in Alaska earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $150,700 a year, 11% above the national figure and the 8th highest of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Alaska, about 2.1 are Physician Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.0. That makes the local economy more reliant on Physician Assistants than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year. Taken together, Alaska is one of the better-paying states for Physician Assistants.
Summary
Physician Assistants in Alaska typically earn $150,700 a year ($72.45 an hour) as of the latest 2025 wage data, a figure that has climbed 38% over the past decade and sits above the national typical pay. Anyone considering the role in Alaska can check the state licensing or registry page for specific requirements, and the city pages for more precise local figures in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physician Assistant make in Alaska?
- A typical Physician Assistant in Alaska earns **$72.45 an hour**, or about $150,700 a year, according to government wage data from May 2025. That is above the national typical pay of $135,880 for the same role, and it ranks Alaska 8th among the 51 states and territories tracked.
- How much does a Physician Assistant make an hour in Alaska?
- Physician Assistants in Alaska typically make **$72.45 an hour**, according to 2025 government wage data. Entry-level pay starts closer to $50.99 an hour, while the top 10% of earners make over $96.76 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physician Assistant in Alaska?
- Entry-level Physician Assistants in Alaska typically start around **$50.99 an hour**, or about $106,060 a year, based on 2025 wage data. Pay tends to rise toward the state's typical figure of $150,700 a year as someone gains a few years of clinical experience.
- Which city in Alaska pays Physician Assistants the most?
- Fairbanks, including the neighboring College area, pays Physician Assistants the most in Alaska, with typical pay of **$164,910 a year** ($79.28 an hour). That is about 9% above the statewide typical pay. Anchorage, the state's largest employer of Physician Assistants, pays somewhat less at $152,710 a year.
- Is Physician Assistant pay in Alaska higher than the national rate?
- Yes. Physician Assistants in Alaska typically earn **11% more** than the national figure of $135,880 a year, putting the state 8th among the 51 states and territories tracked in 2025 wage data. Alaska's typical pay of $150,700 a year reflects that higher standing.