Physician Assistant salary by state and agency

How median pay for full-time federal employees in the Physician Assistant series (series 0603) differs by where they work and who employs them. Nationally the median is $174,866. Full physician assistant salary profile →

Highest state median

$234,217

California

Lowest state median

$147,745

South Dakota

Agency spread

$66,335

highest vs. lowest agency median

National median

$174,866

3,105 full-time employees

State differences come largely from locality pay, which raises federal salaries in high-cost labor markets, and from differences in the grade mix of the jobs located there. Agency differences often reflect different pay plans and grade structures. Only states and agencies with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay are listed.

By state, highest to lowest median

Physician Assistant median pay by state
State	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
California	129	$234,217	$205,772–$249,883
Arizona	113	$213,136	$190,483–$223,204
Texas	300	$211,041	$191,841–$223,002
Oregon	35	$197,350	$184,928–$206,337
Georgia	103	$192,687	$168,802–$197,464
Nevada	33	$189,420	$185,148–$189,420
Kansas	36	$188,862	$185,733–$197,784
Oklahoma	86	$187,727	$164,017–$187,727
Virginia	113	$187,466	$166,489–$192,732
Kentucky	61	$182,470	$160,276–$200,351
North Carolina	288	$180,766	$165,428–$189,492
Illinois	88	$180,097	$166,987–$192,199
Massachusetts	59	$180,040	$158,404–$198,751
Tennessee	55	$179,567	$154,384–$185,492
District of Columbia	38	$178,294	$159,282–$178,294
Louisiana	55	$178,084	$166,080–$192,985
Minnesota	55	$176,858	$159,624–$182,109
Colorado	57	$176,338	$154,478–$185,082
Florida	270	$173,019	$156,856–$187,556
Washington	64	$172,422	$160,014–$183,117
Missouri	63	$167,197	$148,953–$185,601
South Carolina	49	$166,169	$147,429–$178,827
New Mexico	49	$164,017	$150,901–$177,271
Pennsylvania	257	$162,936	$145,480–$176,028
Ohio	125	$161,577	$150,645–$173,677
Michigan	69	$161,133	$151,692–$174,082
Idaho	60	$160,304	$145,523–$167,717
Wisconsin	55	$158,784	$146,554–$171,835
Maryland	62	$158,322	$151,218–$181,205
West Virginia	66	$155,337	$140,522–$162,512
New York	125	$155,006	$147,672–$175,055
South Dakota	53	$147,745	$134,961–$157,693

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

By agency, highest to lowest median

Physician Assistant median pay by agency
Agency	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs	3,121	$176,643	$158,863–$193,000
Department of Health and Human Services	213	$158,322	$145,596–$164,017
Department of Justice	63	$110,308	$103,673–$119,431

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)