The average annual salary for physician assistants in the U.S. is $125,270, according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment statistics survey.
By comparison, nurse practitioners make an average of $124,680, general medicine physicians make an average of $242,190 and nurses make an average of $77,600.
Physician assistants are paid the most in Washington, earning $145,290, followed closely by California and Alaska. Physician assistants in Arkansas made the least, earning an average of $68,270 per year.
Here are the 10 highest-paying states for physician assistants to practice:
|
State |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage |
|
|
1 |
Washington |
$69.90 |
$145,390 |
|
2 |
California |
$69.48 |
$144,520 |
|
3 |
Alaska |
$69.45 |
$144,460 |
|
4 |
Connecticut |
$68.89 |
$143,280 |
|
5 |
Nevada |
$67.96 |
$141,360 |
|
6 |
Oregon |
$65.67 |
$136,600 |
|
7 |
New Hampshire |
$65.48 |
$136,200 |
|
8 |
New York |
$65.20 |
$135,620 |
|
9 |
New Mexico |
$64.25 |
$133,630 |
|
10 |
Texas |
$63.93 |
$132,980 |
Meanwhile, here are the 10 lowest-paying states for physician assistants, starting with the lowest:
|
State |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage |
|
|
1 |
Arkansas |
$32.82 |
$68,270 |
|
2 |
Mississippi |
$37.16 |
$77,290 |
|
3 |
Alabama |
$45.30 |
$94,220 |
|
4 |
Kentucky |
$50.95 |
$105,980 |
|
5 |
Tennessee |
$51.01 |
$106,110 |
|
6 |
South Carolina |
$51.06 |
$106,200 |
|
7 |
Hawaii |
$51.42 |
$106,960 |
|
8 |
Pennsylvania |
$52.95 |
$110,140 |
|
9 |
Florida |
$53.33 |
$110,930 |
|
10 |
Missouri |
$53.66 |
$111,610 |