Physician Assistant Salary - A Look at Earnings
Thinking about a career as a physician assistant, or maybe you are just curious about what these dedicated healthcare professionals earn? It is pretty common to wonder about the financial side of things when considering any job path, especially one as important as this. We are going to take a closer look at what physician assistants typically bring home, drawing on some recent numbers to give you a clearer picture.
What someone makes in this important medical role can vary quite a bit, you know, depending on where they work, how much experience they have, and even the exact tasks they perform. We have gathered some of the most up-to-date figures from different sources, giving you a good general idea of what to expect. So, if you are asking yourself about the money involved, this information should help shed some light on the subject.
We will walk through the national averages, check out what the earnings look like in specific cities like Atlanta, Georgia, and even touch on how pay might differ from one state to another. This way, you get a well-rounded view of the typical physician assistant salary, helping you understand the financial landscape for this valuable medical profession.
Table of Contents
- What's the Usual Physician Assistant Salary Picture Across the Country?
- How Does Physician Assistant Salary Look in Atlanta, Georgia?
- Is Physician Assistant Salary Different Depending on Where You Live?
- What Goes Into a Physician Assistant Salary?
- Current Physician Assistant Salary Information
- Getting a Personal View on Physician Assistant Salary
- Understanding Physician Assistant Salary Ranges
- The Future of Physician Assistant Salary
What's the Usual Physician Assistant Salary Picture Across the Country?
When we look at what physician assistants generally earn across the entire United States, the numbers give us a pretty good idea of what a person in this line of work might expect to make. According to the most recent information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is a key source for this kind of data, physician assistants, also known as PAs, generally bring in a solid amount each year. They made a median salary of $130,020 in 2023, which is, you know, a pretty good middle point for earnings across the board.
It is worth noting that this figure, the $130,020 median salary, was updated in May 2024, showing a slight increase to $133,260. This change suggests a positive trend for those working as physician assistants. The median is a good number to focus on because it means half of all PAs earned more than that amount, and half earned less. It gives you a true center point, not just an average that could be skewed by a few very high or very low earners. So, it is a very helpful way to gauge typical earnings.
Beyond that median figure, the average annual salary for a physician assistant in the United States was around $110,974 as of June 1, 2025. This average gives us another way to see the general earnings across the whole country. It is, like, another piece of the puzzle that helps paint a complete picture of what someone in this profession can expect to take home. This particular average is based on a wide collection of data, giving us a broad view of the financial rewards for this important medical role.
It is also important to remember that these numbers represent the full spectrum of earnings for physician assistants. Some individuals will earn less than the average, while others will earn quite a bit more. For instance, the information shows that compensation can fall within a broad range, with the lowest reported salary being around $82,822 and the highest reaching up to $197,831. This wide range, you know, really shows how much variation there can be in what a physician assistant gets paid, depending on various things we will talk about soon.
How Does Physician Assistant Salary Look in Atlanta, Georgia?
When we zoom in on a specific place, like Atlanta, Georgia, the numbers for physician assistant salary can look a little different compared to the national picture. As of June 1, 2025, the average physician assistant salary in Atlanta, Georgia, was about $108,665. This figure gives us a good starting point for what someone might earn if they are working in this bustling southern city. It is, you know, a pretty specific number for that area.
Other data points for Atlanta also give us slightly different views, which is actually quite common when you look at various sources. For example, some information suggests the average salary for a physician assistant in Atlanta, Georgia, is closer to $114,481 per year. This particular number comes from a collection of 60 salaries taken from job postings on a popular employment website in the past month, specifically updated on May 27, 2025. This shows, like, how quickly these numbers can change and how different data sets can offer slightly varied insights.
Then there is another perspective that shows the average physician assistant salary in Atlanta, Georgia, at $112,261 for 2025. This particular figure comes from a different source that helps people research salaries based on things like city, how much experience someone has, their particular skills, and even the type of employer. So, you can see there are several ways to look at what PAs are earning in this one city, giving us a more complete picture of the physician assistant salary landscape there.
Interestingly, some data even provides an hourly rate for physician assistants in Atlanta. One source indicates that the average salary for a physician assistant is $197,831 per year or about $95 per hour in Atlanta, Georgia. This hourly rate is, in a way, about 1% higher than the national average for hourly pay. This kind of detail helps people understand not just the yearly earnings, but also what a typical work hour might be worth for a physician assistant in this particular city.
Is Physician Assistant Salary Different Depending on Where You Live?
Yes, the amount of money a physician assistant makes can really depend on where they live in the country. It is, in fact, one of the biggest factors that can change what someone earns. For instance, there are 21 states where physician assistants generally earn more than $116,080, which is the average PA salary across all states. This means that if you are working in one of these states, you could be bringing home a significantly larger paycheck, which is, you know, a pretty good incentive for some.
On the flip side, there are 29 states where physician assistants typically earn less than that national average. So, if you are considering a move or thinking about where to start your career, understanding these differences in physician assistant salary from state to state is really quite important. It can make a noticeable impact on your financial well-being and what your money can buy in that specific area. This variation is, like, a key thing to keep in mind.
Washington, for example, stands out as a state where physician assistants tend to get paid the most. This kind of information is, well, really helpful for anyone trying to figure out the best place to practice if earning potential is a big consideration. Knowing which states are at the top of the pay scale can help people make more informed decisions about where they might want to live and work as a physician assistant. It is, arguably, a big piece of the puzzle.
Even within states, there can be differences from city to city. We saw how Atlanta's numbers vary, and if we look at another city like Gilbert, Arizona, the picture changes again. The average physician assistant salary in Gilbert, Arizona, was about $119,365 as of May 28, 2024. However, the salary range there usually falls between certain amounts, meaning not everyone makes the average. This shows that even within a relatively smaller area, there is, you know, a typical range of earnings that people can expect, which is good to know.
What Goes Into a Physician Assistant Salary?
Several things can influence what a physician assistant earns, and it is not just about where they happen to live. One very important thing is the specific job title or role they have. The provided information mentions that there are localized salaries for some of the most popular physician assistant job titles. This suggests that even within the broad field of being a PA, certain specializations or, you know, particular kinds of work might command different rates of pay. It is something to consider when looking at potential earnings.
Another big piece of the puzzle is how much experience someone has. The text mentions looking at the "pay by experience level for physician assistant (PAs)." This clearly tells us that someone just starting out in the field might not earn as much as a PA who has been working for many years and has a lot of practical knowledge. As you gain more experience and, you know, become more skilled in your profession, your earning potential typically goes up, which is a pretty common pattern in many jobs.
Beyond experience and job title, there are other elements that play a part. For instance, all states require physician assistants to be licensed. This means you need to meet certain educational and testing requirements to legally practice. While the license itself does not directly dictate salary, it is a fundamental requirement that allows you to earn anything at all as a PA. It is, basically, the ticket to entry for this kind of work, and without it, you cannot practice and therefore cannot earn a physician assistant salary.
The type of employer can also play a role, as can the specific skills a PA possesses. For example, a physician assistant working in a large hospital system might have a different pay structure than one working in a small private clinic. Similarly, having specialized skills or certifications in certain medical areas could potentially lead to higher earning opportunities. These are all, you know, factors that contribute to the overall picture of what a physician assistant might earn in a given situation.
Current Physician Assistant Salary Information
Staying up-to-date on what physician assistants are earning is pretty helpful, especially if you are thinking about this career or are already in it. We have some recent figures that give us a fresh look at the typical physician assistant salary. For instance, the median annual wage for physician assistants was recorded at $133,260 in May 2024. This is, you know, a very current snapshot of what the middle-ground earnings look like for these professionals across the country.
Then there are the very recent numbers from June 1, 2025, which show the average physician assistant salary in the United States as $110,974. This figure, while an average, gives us another current data point to consider. It is important to look at these different dates and sources, as they can sometimes offer slightly different perspectives on the same topic, helping us get a more complete picture. This kind of regular update is, in a way, really valuable for anyone interested in the field.
For those who want to get a very specific and personalized look at earnings, there is also the 2025 AAPA digital salary report. This report is designed to let you explore key salary and benefits insights in a way that feels very personal. You can, you know, adjust the data tables with just a few clicks, which lets you compare different scenarios and see how various factors might influence what a physician assistant makes. It is a tool that allows for a much more detailed examination of compensation information.
This kind of detailed report helps individuals truly understand how their specific situation, like their experience, location, or even the type of practice they work in, might affect their physician assistant salary. It is, basically, a way to move beyond general averages and get a clearer sense of what applies to you. Being able to tailor the data makes it much more useful for personal planning and understanding the financial aspects of this important healthcare role.
Getting a Personal View on Physician Assistant Salary
While national averages and state-by-state comparisons are very useful, sometimes you need to get a more personal sense of what a physician assistant salary might look like for you. That is where tools and resources that allow you to customize your search come in handy. For example, some platforms let you research physician assistant salaries by specific city, which is, you know, really helpful if you have a particular place in mind where you want to work.
Beyond just the city, these resources also often let you look at earnings based on your level of experience. So, whether you are just starting out or you have been a PA for many years, you can get a better idea of what people with a similar amount of time in the field are earning. This kind of detail is, basically, very important because experience plays a big role in how much someone gets paid in almost any profession, including that of a physician assistant.
Furthermore, you can often filter by specific skills you possess or even by the type of employer you might work for. This means if you have specialized medical skills, you can see if those skills typically lead to higher compensation. Or, if you are considering working for a hospital versus a private practice, you can get a sense of how those different environments might affect your physician assistant salary. It is, in a way, a very detailed approach to understanding earnings.
The ability to compare data tables, like those mentioned in the AAPA digital salary report, also gives you a lot of power to personalize your research. You can, you know, put in your own details and see how different scenarios play out in terms of potential earnings. This kind of interactive tool helps you move from general information to something that feels much more relevant to your own career path and financial goals as a physician assistant.
Understanding Physician Assistant Salary Ranges
When we talk about what physician assistants earn, it is really important to look beyond just the average or median numbers and consider the full range of salaries. The data shows that PA compensation can fall within a pretty wide span. For example, some figures indicate that the lowest salary for a physician assistant might be around $82,822, while the highest could reach up to $197,831. This, you know, is a significant difference, showing that there is a lot of room for variation in earnings.
