Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Physician assistants (SOC 29-1071) employed 162,150 people in May 2025. The median pay is $135,880 a year ($65.33 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $99,380 and the highest-paid 10% more than $190,280. BLS projects its employment to change by +21.1% between 2025 and 2035 (about 11,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Master's degree.
Highest median pay: New Jersey ($165,690), California ($165,650), Washington ($164,360). Most jobs: New York (19,140), California (13,600), Texas (10,110).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,380 | $47.78 |
| 25th percentile | $120,670 | $58.01 |
| Median | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Mean | $141,280 | $67.92 |
| 75th percentile | $163,980 | $78.84 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $190,280 | $91.48 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 168,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 204,600 |
| Change in jobs | 35,700 |
| Percent change | +21.1% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 11,500 |
| Self-employed share | 1.4% |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 930 | 0.42 | $104,960 | $83,020 | $145,100 | -23% | 12% |
| Alaska | 700 | 2.07 | $150,700 | $106,060 | $201,270 | +11% | 11% |
| Arizona | 3,750 | 1.11 | $134,650 | $106,030 | $174,420 | -1% | 15% |
| Arkansas | 850 | 0.62 | $118,430 | $88,160 | $159,080 | -13% | 10% |
| California | 13,600 | 0.72 | $165,650 | $99,380 | $225,190 | +22% | 15% |
| Colorado | 3,270 | 1.09 | $134,540 | $104,590 | $174,090 | -1% | 16% |
| Connecticut | 3,570 | 2.02 | $139,860 | $106,380 | $180,900 | +3% | 13% |
| Delaware | 860 | 1.69 | $139,350 | $108,560 | $175,970 | +3% | 13% |
| District of Columbia | 470 | 0.64 | $135,140 | $84,520 | $213,560 | -1% | 17% |
| Florida | 9,310 | 0.90 | $129,620 | $98,530 | $181,610 | -5% | 17% |
| Georgia | 5,610 | 1.10 | $115,390 | $62,230 | $172,050 | -15% | 16% |
| Hawaii | 530 | 0.81 | $164,050 | $79,280 | $178,110 | +21% | 14% |
| Idaho | 1,320 | 1.48 | $133,790 | $100,590 | $160,120 | -2% | 12% |
| Illinois | 3,790 | 0.60 | $131,950 | $105,160 | $162,330 | -3% | 12% |
| Indiana | 2,110 | 0.63 | $132,050 | $105,810 | $196,280 | -3% | 10% |
| Iowa | 1,200 | 0.74 | $134,770 | $102,330 | $182,940 | -1% | 9% |
| Kansas | 890 | 0.59 | $125,640 | $98,280 | $168,480 | -8% | 10% |
| Kentucky | 1,360 | 0.65 | $120,760 | $79,550 | $161,820 | -11% | 10% |
| Louisiana | 1,360 | 0.68 | $128,870 | $100,920 | $162,200 | -5% | 10% |
| Maine | 1,030 | 1.54 | $131,170 | $107,630 | $169,250 | -3% | 11% |
| Maryland | 2,950 | 1.02 | $137,560 | $110,190 | $174,280 | +1% | 15% |
| Massachusetts | 4,470 | 1.18 | $142,410 | $65,220 | $204,140 | +5% | 16% |
| Michigan | 6,310 | 1.37 | $131,510 | $104,000 | $162,570 | -3% | 11% |
| Minnesota | 3,660 | 1.19 | $141,190 | $112,390 | $183,320 | +4% | 11% |
| Mississippi | 320 | 0.26 | $105,920 | $44,030 | $165,630 | -22% | 11% |
| Missouri | 2,300 | 0.75 | $135,130 | $82,690 | $169,650 | -1% | 9% |
| Montana | 600 | 1.13 | $141,470 | $112,200 | $165,560 | +4% | 10% |
| Nebraska | 1,330 | 1.24 | $133,040 | $103,720 | $165,540 | -2% | 10% |
| Nevada | 1,090 | 0.67 | $134,660 | $60,040 | $175,300 | -1% | 15% |
| New Hampshire | 1,060 | 1.49 | $150,960 | $119,540 | $175,380 | +11% | 12% |
| New Jersey | 4,790 | 1.07 | $165,690 | $117,860 | $207,000 | +22% | 13% |
| New Mexico | 700 | 0.78 | $139,920 | $70,010 | $172,900 | +3% | 10% |
| New York | 19,140 | 1.90 | $160,880 | $106,440 | $201,410 | +18% | 12% |
| North Carolina | 7,490 | 1.45 | $129,360 | $101,100 | $164,770 | -5% | 12% |
| North Dakota | 510 | 1.15 | $133,450 | $77,300 | $173,860 | -2% | 9% |
| Ohio | 4,900 | 0.85 | $132,090 | $96,460 | $210,350 | -3% | 10% |
| Oklahoma | 1,770 | 0.99 | $136,550 | $102,890 | $173,010 | +0% | 9% |
| Oregon | 2,250 | 1.09 | $155,780 | $123,100 | $198,490 | +15% | 12% |
| Pennsylvania | 9,020 | 1.43 | $127,070 | $99,050 | $158,690 | -6% | 12% |
| Rhode Island | 810 | 1.56 | $139,930 | $98,760 | $200,030 | +3% | 12% |
| South Carolina | 2,250 | 0.94 | $122,490 | $77,620 | $158,860 | -10% | 12% |
| South Dakota | 680 | 1.43 | $133,200 | $104,660 | $158,020 | -2% | 9% |
| Tennessee | 2,240 | 0.65 | $118,240 | $93,380 | $141,670 | -13% | 13% |
| Texas | 10,110 | 0.69 | $134,550 | $102,650 | $169,000 | -1% | 13% |
| Utah | 1,610 | 0.89 | $134,740 | $82,910 | $171,430 | -1% | 14% |
| Vermont | 410 | 1.30 | $150,490 | $112,460 | $186,960 | +11% | 11% |
| Virginia | 4,340 | 1.01 | $135,940 | $98,330 | $213,010 | +0% | 15% |
| Washington | 3,540 | 0.96 | $164,360 | $125,580 | $218,150 | +21% | 13% |
| West Virginia | 1,080 | 1.47 | $128,610 | $98,200 | $160,890 | -5% | 8% |
| Wisconsin | 3,580 | 1.17 | $133,950 | $102,420 | $169,150 | -1% | 10% |
| Wyoming | 330 | 1.12 | $136,080 | $102,320 | $177,900 | +0% | 9% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,030 | $223,640 | $100,240 | $287,420 | 0.87 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 350 | $198,070 | $126,200 | $219,990 | 0.99 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,830 | $184,380 | $106,150 | $237,980 | 0.74 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 390 | $170,060 | $85,860 | $178,110 | 0.83 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 16,800 | $167,650 | $124,470 | $207,000 | 1.70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,920 | $167,290 | $130,820 | $218,970 | 0.88 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,020 | $165,490 | $77,310 | $224,010 | 0.57 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,370 | $165,160 | $109,750 | $214,570 | 0.86 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,110 | $163,810 | $105,180 | $216,960 | 0.88 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,890 | $161,890 | $99,570 | $220,580 | 0.60 |
| Springfield, MA | 320 | $161,770 | $113,860 | $164,680 | 1.55 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,070 | $161,470 | $72,440 | $225,400 | 0.95 |
| Fresno, CA | 360 | $155,440 | $64,400 | $206,250 | 0.72 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 510 | $154,610 | $105,260 | $192,650 | 1.81 |
| Worcester, MA | 470 | $152,860 | $108,630 | $195,210 | 1.29 |
| Anchorage, AK | 460 | $152,710 | $106,060 | $199,810 | 2.49 |
| New Haven, CT | 740 | $149,960 | $125,350 | $185,920 | 2.51 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,020 | $148,200 | $108,030 | $213,750 | 0.92 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 350 | $147,570 | $114,400 | $195,700 | 1.33 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 940 | $145,400 | $106,540 | $198,650 | 2.22 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,340 | $145,030 | $109,190 | $183,520 | 1.15 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 520 | $142,510 | $106,710 | $183,400 | 1.46 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,550 | $142,410 | $65,220 | $205,620 | 1.26 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 350 | $140,200 | $115,950 | $165,120 | 2.23 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 650 | $140,160 | $113,840 | $201,640 | 0.55 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 950 | $139,930 | $96,870 | $187,080 | 1.28 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 380 | $139,920 | $69,430 | $179,420 | 0.90 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1,020 | $138,920 | $102,890 | $170,340 | 1.44 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,660 | $138,790 | $110,190 | $172,540 | 1.17 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,460 | $138,680 | $99,470 | $173,130 | 2.34 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 510 | $138,400 | $104,900 | $173,680 | 1.32 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 770 | $137,850 | $116,990 | $161,720 | 1.64 |
| Columbus, OH | 1,140 | $137,550 | $97,820 | $212,220 | 0.99 |
| Rochester, MN | 480 | $137,340 | $131,480 | $175,500 | 3.73 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,390 | $137,240 | $90,920 | $168,240 | 0.70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,260 | $136,120 | $77,620 | $170,960 | 0.90 |
| Roanoke, VA | 360 | $135,940 | $106,150 | $162,800 | 2.23 |
| Cleveland, OH | 750 | $135,860 | $105,060 | $229,610 | 0.70 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,390 | $135,640 | $103,720 | $170,140 | 1.12 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 810 | $135,310 | $113,430 | $162,570 | 3.53 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 440 | $135,200 | $104,990 | $163,990 | 1.33 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,220 | $135,040 | $97,090 | $169,360 | 1.43 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,230 | $134,900 | $96,770 | $171,660 | 0.77 |
| Boise City, ID | 650 | $134,800 | $97,310 | $160,120 | 1.60 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 650 | $134,660 | $65,060 | $179,070 | 0.55 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,050 | $134,650 | $106,860 | $173,920 | 1.23 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 680 | $134,550 | $111,830 | $170,450 | 0.50 |
| Reno, NV | 300 | $134,550 | $46,290 | $173,380 | 1.05 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,650 | $134,540 | $105,560 | $175,590 | 0.98 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | 300 | $134,490 | $102,130 | $172,550 | 0.94 |
| Tulsa, OK | 350 | $134,380 | $59,290 | $178,120 | 0.73 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 720 | $134,130 | $106,690 | $168,400 | 1.39 |
| Madison, WI | 490 | $133,950 | $57,980 | $164,900 | 1.16 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 340 | $133,830 | $99,990 | $188,860 | 0.80 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 540 | $133,350 | $101,600 | $165,740 | 0.47 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,680 | $133,140 | $99,610 | $169,220 | 1.19 |
| Syracuse, NY | 590 | $133,000 | $101,200 | $170,600 | 1.88 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 740 | $132,670 | $107,420 | $168,950 | 2.07 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,190 | $132,360 | $101,870 | $181,620 | 0.74 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,100 | $132,350 | $104,550 | $170,440 | 1.38 |
The median is $135,880 a year ($65.33 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $99,380 and the highest-paid tenth over $190,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
162,150 in May 2025, and BLS projects +21.1% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Master's degree (BLS).
New Jersey, with a median of $165,690 (among states with published figures).