How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make in Maryland in 2026?

A typical Physician Assistant in Maryland earns about $66.13 per hour, or $137,560 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay comes to roughly $11,463 a month and $2,645 a week. Those figures represent typical pay across the state, covering PAs in hospitals, clinics, and specialty practices alike. Actual pay varies by setting, city, and experience.

Maryland pay runs about 1% above the national typical of $135,880 a year, or $65.33 an hour, according to the same wage data. That puts Maryland 17th among the 51 states and jurisdictions tracked for this occupation. Roughly 2,950 Physician Assistants work in Maryland, compared with 162,150 nationwide. The state's pay sits close to the national line, with a modest edge rather than a wide gap.

Entry-level positions in Maryland typically offer around $52.98 an hour, or about $110,190 a year, for Physician Assistants just starting out. Some entry-level roles pay a bit more, with the next tier reaching close to $60.16 an hour, or $125,140 a year. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $137,560 within the first few years on the job. New graduates should expect a lower starting figure with room to grow.

Experienced Physician Assistants in Maryland often earn upwards of $76.96 an hour, or about $160,090 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $174,280 a year, or roughly $83.79 an hour. That leaves a spread of $64,090 between entry-level and top-tier pay in the state. Setting, years of experience, and the city where a PA works tend to separate the two ends of that range.

Maryland Physician Assistants have seen pay climb from $94,400 in 2015 to $137,560 in 2025, a gain of $43,160. That works out to a 46% rise over the decade, tracked through the state's annual wage data. The increase has been steady rather than a single jump, building year over year. Pay in 2025 stands well above where it started a decade earlier.

Nationally, pay for this occupation rose 38% over the same decade, meaning Maryland's climb outpaced the national trend. For someone starting out now, that history shows pay has moved up steadily in this state. It offers no guarantee about future years, but the decade-long pattern points in one direction so far.

The Washington-Alexandria metro area pays Physician Assistants the most in Maryland, with typical pay reaching $148,200 a year, or $71.25 an hour, about 8% above the state figure. This figure reflects the full metro area rather than the city alone. Salisbury follows next, with typical pay of $142,580 a year. Baltimore, Towson, and Columbia each report $138,790 a year, just above the statewide figure.

Lexington Park pays the least among Maryland's metro areas, with typical pay of $136,860 a year, or $65.80 an hour, still close to the state figure. That leaves a spread of $11,340 between the highest- and lowest-paying areas in the state. The Washington-Alexandria metro area also holds the largest Physician Assistant workforce, with 3,020 employed there. Higher pay in that area tends to track a higher cost of living, not a difference in the work itself.

Maryland's pay sits close to its neighbors. Delaware pays slightly more, at $139,350 a year, about 1% above Maryland. Virginia and the District of Columbia pay a bit less, at $135,940 and $135,140 respectively, both within 2% of Maryland's figure. West Virginia and Pennsylvania trail further behind, at $128,610 and $127,070, roughly 7% and 8% lower. Physician Assistant licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring one.

Physician Assistants in Maryland typically earn $137,560 a year, a figure that has risen 46% over the past decade and now sits slightly above the national typical. Pay varies by city and experience, from entry-level roles near $110,190 to top earners above $174,280. Readers considering this path in Maryland can check the state licensing board or PA registry for current requirements, and review city-level pages for local pay figures before making a decision.