Annual Median Salary for a Physician's Assistant
- The annual median salary for a physician's assistant in the United States is $84,420 as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). On the salary scale, assistants in the 10th percentile earn $55,880, those in the 25th percentile earn $71,160, those in the 75th percentile earn $99,540 and those in the 90th percentile earn $115,080.
- Most physician's assistants work either in the offices of physicians or in general medical and surgical hospitals, earning $84,720 at the former and $86,850 at the latter on average, according to the BLS. In outpatient care centers the average for physician's assistants is $87,060, while those working in colleges, universities and professional schools earn an average of $82,450. The federal executive branch also employs physician's assistants at the average salary of $81,180 a year.
- Specialty hospitals and residential mental retardation, mental health and substance abuse facilities typically offer higher-than-average wages for physician's assistants at $90,940 and $103,520, respectively, according to BLS data. Some assistants work in the industry of employment services, which offers the highest salary average of $104,780. Physician's assistants may also advance their careers by pursuing certification in a specialty area such as internal medicine or pediatrics.
- A physician's assistant's salary will vary based on his location. The BLS names Nevada as the highest-paying state for this occupation with an annual salary average of $103,500, followed by Washington at $98,880. At $142,220 for a salary average, Chattanooga, Tennessee-Georgia is the nation's highest-paying metropolitan area for physician's assistants, followed by Racine, Wisconsin, at $124,930 and Lake County-Kenosha County, Illinois-Wisconsin at $121,270.
