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How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make in Washington, DC in 2026?

Typical pay for Physician Assistants in Washington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across District of Columbia.

$148,200
Typical pay a year
$71.25
Typical pay an hour
+10%
vs District of Columbia · +9% vs US
3,020
Physician Assistants employed in the area
Where Physician Assistant pay falls in Washington
from starting out to the top earners
$108,030
Starting out
$129,990
First years
$148,200
Typical
$174,280
Experienced
$213,750
Top 10%

BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area

A typical Physician Assistant in Washington, District of Columbia earns $71.25 per hour, or $148,200 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $12,350 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $108,030, and the top 10% of earners make over $213,750.

That pay is 10% above the District of Columbia figure of $135,140 and 9% above the national figure of $135,880. About 3,020 Physician Assistants work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.

Physician Assistant pay in Washington at a glance

  • Typical pay is $71.25 an hour, or $148,200 a year.
  • That is 10% above the District of Columbia figure.
  • Entry-level positions typically offer around $108,030; the top 10% make over $213,750.
  • Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +30% for District of Columbia as a whole.

BLS OES May 2025

How much does a Physician Assistant make in Washington?

Pay in Washington runs from entry-level positions at around $51.94 an hour to more than $102.77 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the District of Columbia and national figures.

Physician Assistant pay by career stage in Washington

Physician Assistant pay by career stage in Washington
Career stageWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUnited States
Starting out$108,030$51.94 an hour$84,520$40.64 an hour$99,380$47.78 an hour
First years$129,990$62.50 an hour$127,990$61.54 an hour$120,670$58.02 an hour
Typical Physician Assistant$148,200$71.25 an hour$135,140$64.97 an hour$135,880$65.33 an hour
Experienced$174,280$83.79 an hour$165,890$79.76 an hour$163,980$78.84 an hour
Top 10%$213,750$102.77 an hour$213,560$102.67 an hour$190,280$91.48 an hour

BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it

Physician Assistant pay growth in Washington

$148,200
2025 typical annual pay
+$10,550 vs 2024
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Typical (median) annual wage for Physician Assistants in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change

In 2015, typical Physician Assistant pay in Washington was $99,300 a year. By 2025 it had reached $148,200, a change of +49%, compared with +30% for District of Columbia over the same years.

Is Washington a good place to work as a Physician Assistant?

+9%
vs national pay · +10% vs District of Columbia
3,020
Physician Assistants employed in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area
1.0
Physician Assistant jobs per 1,000 jobs, vs about 1.0 nationally

Physician Assistants in Washington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $148,200 a year, 9% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 1.0 are Physician Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.0. Physician Assistant jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Physician Assistant make in Washington, DC?
A typical Physician Assistant in Washington earns $148,200 a year, or $71.25 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $108,030 and the top 10% earn over $213,750.
How much does a Physician Assistant make an hour in Washington?
Typical hourly pay for Physician Assistants in Washington is $71.25. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $51.94, and the top 10% earn over $102.77 an hour.
What is the starting pay for a Physician Assistant in Washington?
Entry-level Physician Assistant positions in Washington typically offer around $51.94 an hour, or $108,030 a year.
Is Physician Assistant pay in Washington higher than in the rest of District of Columbia?
Washington pay is 10% above the District of Columbia figure of $135,140 a year, ranking 1st of 1 metro areas in the state.

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