Physician Assistants Salary by State
The national median pay for physician assistants is $135,880 a year. By state, it ranges from $104,960 in Alabama to $165,690 in New Jersey.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $99,380
- 25th percentile
- $120,670
- Median
- $135,880
- 75th percentile
- $163,980
- Top 10%
- $190,280
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 162,150 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $165,690 | +22% | $117,860 | $207,000 | 4,790 |
| 2 | California | $165,650 | +22% | $99,380 | $225,190 | 13,600 |
| 3 | Washington | $164,360 | +21% | $125,580 | $218,150 | 3,540 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $164,050 | +21% | $79,280 | $178,110 | 530 |
| 5 | New York | $160,880 | +18% | $106,440 | $201,410 | 19,140 |
| 6 | Oregon | $155,780 | +15% | $123,100 | $198,490 | 2,250 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $150,960 | +11% | $119,540 | $175,380 | 1,060 |
| 8 | Alaska | $150,700 | +11% | $106,060 | $201,270 | 700 |
| 9 | Vermont | $150,490 | +11% | $112,460 | $186,960 | 410 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $142,410 | +5% | $65,220 | $204,140 | 4,470 |
| 11 | Montana | $141,470 | +4% | $112,200 | $165,560 | 600 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $141,190 | +4% | $112,390 | $183,320 | 3,660 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $139,930 | +3% | $98,760 | $200,030 | 810 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $139,920 | +3% | $70,010 | $172,900 | 700 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $139,860 | +3% | $106,380 | $180,900 | 3,570 |
| 16 | Delaware | $139,350 | +3% | $108,560 | $175,970 | 860 |
| 17 | Maryland | $137,560 | +1% | $110,190 | $174,280 | 2,950 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $136,550 | 0% | $102,890 | $173,010 | 1,770 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $136,080 | 0% | $102,320 | $177,900 | 330 |
| 20 | Virginia | $135,940 | 0% | $98,330 | $213,010 | 4,340 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $135,140 | −1% | $84,520 | $213,560 | 470 |
| 22 | Missouri | $135,130 | −1% | $82,690 | $169,650 | 2,300 |
| 23 | Iowa | $134,770 | −1% | $102,330 | $182,940 | 1,200 |
| 24 | Utah | $134,740 | −1% | $82,910 | $171,430 | 1,610 |
| 25 | Nevada | $134,660 | −1% | $60,040 | $175,300 | 1,090 |
| 26 | Arizona | $134,650 | −1% | $106,030 | $174,420 | 3,750 |
| 27 | Texas | $134,550 | −1% | $102,650 | $169,000 | 10,110 |
| 28 | Colorado | $134,540 | −1% | $104,590 | $174,090 | 3,270 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $133,950 | −1% | $102,420 | $169,150 | 3,580 |
| 30 | Idaho | $133,790 | −2% | $100,590 | $160,120 | 1,320 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $133,450 | −2% | $77,300 | $173,860 | 510 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $133,200 | −2% | $104,660 | $158,020 | 680 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $133,040 | −2% | $103,720 | $165,540 | 1,330 |
| 34 | Ohio | $132,090 | −3% | $96,460 | $210,350 | 4,900 |
| 35 | Indiana | $132,050 | −3% | $105,810 | $196,280 | 2,110 |
| 36 | Illinois | $131,950 | −3% | $105,160 | $162,330 | 3,790 |
| 37 | Michigan | $131,510 | −3% | $104,000 | $162,570 | 6,310 |
| 38 | Maine | $131,170 | −3% | $107,630 | $169,250 | 1,030 |
| 39 | Florida | $129,620 | −5% | $98,530 | $181,610 | 9,310 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $129,360 | −5% | $101,100 | $164,770 | 7,490 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $128,870 | −5% | $100,920 | $162,200 | 1,360 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $128,610 | −5% | $98,200 | $160,890 | 1,080 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $127,070 | −6% | $99,050 | $158,690 | 9,020 |
| 44 | Kansas | $125,640 | −8% | $98,280 | $168,480 | 890 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $122,490 | −10% | $77,620 | $158,860 | 2,250 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $120,760 | −11% | $79,550 | $161,820 | 1,360 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $118,430 | −13% | $88,160 | $159,080 | 850 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $118,240 | −13% | $93,380 | $141,670 | 2,240 |
| 49 | Georgia | $115,390 | −15% | $62,230 | $172,050 | 5,610 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $105,920 | −22% | $44,030 | $165,630 | 320 |
| 51 | Alabama | $104,960 | −23% | $83,020 | $145,100 | 930 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Physician Assistants salary questions
Which state pays physician assistants the most?
New Jersey, with a median of $165,690 a year (+22% vs. the national median of $135,880). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays physician assistants the least?
Alabama, with a median of $104,960 a year (−23% vs. national).
Where do most physician assistants work?
New York has the most jobs, about 19,140, with a median of $160,880.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.