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

A typical Physician Assistant in Virginia earns about $65.36 per hour ($135,940 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that comes to roughly $11,328 a month or $2,614 a week, based on the annual figure. These figures cover the full range of settings where Physician Assistants work across the state.

Virginia's typical pay is essentially even with the national figure of $135,880, per the same May 2025 data. Among all 51 states and the District of Columbia, Virginia ranks 20th for Physician Assistant pay. The state is home to roughly 4,340 Physician Assistants, a workforce large enough to reflect a wide mix of hospitals, clinics, and specialty practices.

Entry-level positions in Virginia typically offer around $47.27 an hour ($98,330 a year), according to the same wage data. Pay tends to move toward the typical figure of $135,940 within a few years of gaining experience. Newer Physician Assistants often start in primary care or general practice settings before moving into higher-paying specialties.

Experienced Physician Assistants in Virginia often earn upwards of $78.26 an hour ($162,790 a year), and the top 10% make over $102.41 an hour ($213,010 a year). That leaves a spread of $114,680 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a part in where a given Physician Assistant lands within that range.

Virginia's Physician Assistant pay has risen steadily over the past decade, from $90,670 in 2015 to $135,940 in 2025. That's a gain of $45,270, or 50%, over ten years. The increase has been fairly consistent year over year, with a jump between 2020 and 2021 as pay moved from $108,260 to $120,990.

Nationally, Physician Assistant pay rose 38% over the same decade, so Virginia's increase outpaced the national trend. For someone starting a career in Virginia now, this history shows pay has moved up meaningfully over time, though it offers no guarantee about future years. Past growth reflects what already happened, not a forecast.

Pay runs highest in Arlington, where Physician Assistants earn $148,200 a year, about 9% above the statewide figure. Roanoke follows at $135,940 a year, right at the state's typical pay level. Charlottesville is close behind at $133,540 a year. These figures reflect pay across each city's full metro area.

At the other end, Bristol pays the least among Virginia's metro areas, at $117,490 a year, a spread of $30,710 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities. Arlington also has the largest Physician Assistant workforce in the state, with 3,020 working there. Cities with higher pay, like Arlington, also tend to carry a higher cost of living, which helps explain part of the gap.

Virginia's Physician Assistant pay sits close to most of its neighbors. Maryland pays slightly more, at $137,560 a year, while the District of Columbia is close behind at $135,140. Tennessee pays notably less, at $118,240 a year, about 13% below Virginia, and Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia all fall between 5% and 11% lower. A Physician Assistant license earned in Virginia can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary.

A typical Physician Assistant in Virginia earns $135,940 a year, essentially matching the national figure, and pay has climbed 50% since 2015. For state-specific licensing requirements, check Virginia's physician assistant licensing board or registry page. For a closer look at local pay, city pages covering Arlington, Roanoke, and other Virginia metro areas break down figures by location.