Physician assistants (PAs) in the United States earn a median annual wage of about $133,260 as of May 2024. The average salary generally ranges around $120,000 to $130,000 per year, with variations depending on experience, location, and specialty. For example, the average salary reported by Indeed is approximately $128,278 per year. Top earners in the field can make significantly more, with the highest 10% earning upwards of $164,000 to $172,000 annually. Salaries can also exceed $170,000 based on factors like practice setting and geographic region. Specialties and settings impact pay notably:

• PAs working in operating rooms or surgical centers report averages around $158,000.
• Those in emergency departments average about $152,000.
• PAs in acute care or inpatient units make about $146,000.

Geographically, the Pacific U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, offers the highest average salaries, around $159,000 annually. Gender also plays a role, with male PAs earning around $152,000 on average, while female PAs average about $137,000. In Massachusetts, for example, the average PA salary is approximately $131,000 to $147,000 per year, showing regional differences within the country. Hourly wages range from around $57 to $75 per hour depending on percentile and location. Overall, physician assistants have a strong earning potential with a median salary in the low $130,000s and room for higher earnings with specialization and experience.