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

A typical Physician Assistant in Minnesota earns about $67.88 per hour, or $141,190 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Based on that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $11,766 a month and about $2,715 a week. Those figures reflect the full range of settings where Physician Assistants work across the state.

Minnesota's typical pay sits 4% above the national figure of $135,880 a year, and $65.33 an hour nationally. That places Minnesota 12th among the 51 states and D.C. for Physician Assistant pay. About 3,660 Physician Assistants work in Minnesota, a workforce large enough to give these figures a solid footing.

Entry-level positions in Minnesota typically offer around $54.03 an hour, or about $112,390 a year, for Physician Assistants just starting out. Pay generally moves toward the state's typical figure of $141,190 within the first few years on the job. Newer graduates often start in primary care or hospital settings before moving into higher-paying specialties.

Experienced Physician Assistants in Minnesota often earn upwards of $88.13 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $183,320 a year. That leaves a spread of $70,930 between entry-level and top pay. Years of experience, practice setting, and city all play a role in where a Physician Assistant lands within that range. Those who move into surgical or specialty roles are more likely to reach the higher end.

Physician Assistant pay in Minnesota has climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from $105,680 in 2015 to $141,190 in 2025. That's a gain of $35,510, or 34%, over ten years. The increase has been fairly consistent year over year, with only a brief dip in 2022 before pay resumed climbing.

Nationally, Physician Assistant pay rose 38% over the same ten years, a slightly faster pace than Minnesota's climb. Even so, Minnesota's typical pay remains above the national figure today. For someone starting a Physician Assistant career in Minnesota now, the decade of data shows pay that has moved up meaningfully over time, though past gains don't guarantee future increases.

Physician Assistant pay runs highest in Minneapolis, where the typical figure reaches $145,030 a year ($69.73 an hour) across the full metro area, about 3% above the statewide figure. Mankato follows closely at $142,020 a year, and Rochester comes in at $137,340. Both cities show that higher pay in Minnesota isn't limited to the Minneapolis area alone.

St. Cloud pays the least among Minnesota's tracked cities, at $132,650 a year, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $12,380. Minneapolis also has the largest Physician Assistant workforce in the state, with 2,340 employed there. Higher pay in Minneapolis and Mankato tends to track higher living costs in those areas compared with smaller Minnesota cities.

Minnesota pays Physician Assistants more than each of its neighboring states. Iowa's typical pay is $134,770 a year, about 5% below Minnesota's figure, while Wisconsin sits at $133,950, North Dakota at $133,450, and South Dakota at $133,200, roughly 6% lower. Physician Assistant licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary.

Physician Assistants in Minnesota typically earn $141,190 a year, a figure that has risen 34% over the past decade and now sits above the national pay level. Anyone considering the field in Minnesota should check the state's physician assistant licensing board or registry page for current requirements, and review city-level pages for local pay figures in places like Minneapolis, Rochester, or Duluth before deciding where to practice.