A physician assistant salary calculator converts PA pay between annual, monthly, biweekly, weekly and hourly amounts, then compares it with official wage data. Physician assistants in the United States had a median wage of $135,880 a year, or $65.33 an hour, in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Annual gross pay
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How to Use the Physician Assistant Salary Calculator
- Choose annual salary or hourly rate, the way your contract states base pay.
- Enter your base pay, your hours per week and your weeks per year. Add other annual pay or a second offer if you have them.
- Read your annual gross pay, the pay-period amounts and where your hourly pay sits in the BLS wage table.
What each result tells you:
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Annual gross pay | Base pay for the year plus any other annual pay you entered, before tax. |
| Monthly, biweekly, weekly | Annual gross pay divided by 12, 26 and 52. |
| Hourly | Base pay per paid hour. This is the number compared with BLS. |
| BLS percentile band | The two published BLS percentiles your hourly pay falls between. |
| Approximate percentile | A straight-line estimate between those two percentiles. BLS does not publish it. |
| Gap to BLS median | Your hourly pay minus the BLS median hourly wage, in dollars and percent. |
| Full-time equivalent | Your hourly pay times 2,080 hours, the work year BLS uses for annual wages. |
| Second offer rows | The second offer as annual and hourly pay, its percentile and the yearly difference. |
The first preset is an example, not a typical wage. It shows a physician assistant on a $130,000 salary at 40 hours a week. That is $62.50 an hour, about the 40th percentile.
What Is a Physician Assistant Salary?
A physician assistant salary is the gross pay a licensed PA earns in a year, before tax and deductions. Most PAs work full time, and many are paid a fixed salary, so the real hourly rate depends on the hours they work.
BLS describes the job in one line: physician assistants examine, diagnose and treat patients under the supervision of a physician. They conduct physicals, provide treatment and counsel patients, and in some cases prescribe medication.
| Fact | Value (BLS) |
|---|---|
| Typical entry education | Master degree from an accredited program. All states require a licence. |
| Jobs in 2025 | 168,900 |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | 21%, much faster than the 3% average for all occupations |
| Openings each year | About 11,500 |
| Largest employers | Offices of physicians 53%, hospitals 26%, outpatient care centers 9%, government 3% |
| Schedule | Most work full time. Nights, weekends, holidays and on-call duty are common. |
These facts come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, read on 2026-10-02. BLS links the growth to an older population and to team-based care, where PAs provide many of the same services as physicians.
This tool is for PAs and PA students checking an offer, a raise or a schedule. It is not a pay quote from any employer.
How Does the Physician Assistant Salary Calculator Work?
The calculator converts your pay between time periods, then places your hourly pay in the BLS wage distribution for physician assistants.
Annual pay = hourly rate x hours per week x weeks per yearApproximate percentile = P1 + (your hourly - W1) / (W2 - W1) x (P2 - P1)- Convert. An hourly rate is multiplied by hours and weeks. A salary is divided by them to get pay per hour.
- Add other pay. Overtime, differentials and bonuses you typed are added to the annual total only.
- Find the band. Your base hourly pay is checked against the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile wages.
- Interpolate. W1 and W2 are the two BLS wages around your pay. P1 and P2 are their percentiles.
- Measure the gap. Your hourly pay minus the median, then divided by the median.
The table below is the full BLS wage table for physician assistants that the tool uses.
| Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071) | Hourly wage | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47.78 | $99,380 |
| 25th percentile | $58.02 | $120,670 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $65.33 | $135,880 |
| 75th percentile | $78.84 | $163,980 |
| 90th percentile | $91.48 | $190,280 |
| Mean (average) | $67.92 | $141,280 |
| Employment | 162,150 jobs | |
Source: BLS OEWS, national estimates, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
BLS annual wages equal the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. That is 40 hours for 52 weeks. The comparison uses hourly pay so that part-time and long-shift schedules are judged fairly.
Physician Assistant Salary Example: Salaried at 45 Hours
A physician assistant in an orthopedic practice earns a $128,000 salary. She works about 45 hours a week for 52 weeks. Her bonus and call pay add $8,000 a year. Another practice offers $138,000 for the same hours.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly pay | 128,000 / (45 x 52) | $54.70 |
| Annual gross pay | 128,000 + 8,000 | $136,000.00 |
| Monthly | 136,000 / 12 | $11,333.33 |
| Biweekly | 136,000 / 26 | $5,230.77 |
| BLS band | 54.70 is between 47.78 and 58.02 | 10th to 25th percentile |
| Approximate percentile | 10 + (54.70 - 47.78) / (58.02 - 47.78) x 15 | About the 20th |
| Gap to median | 54.70 - 65.33 | -$10.63 an hour (-16.3%) |
| Second offer | 138,000 / (45 x 52) | $58.97 an hour, +$10,000.00 a year |
On paper her salary sits between the 25th percentile of $120,670 and the median of $135,880. Per hour it does not. At 45 hours a week her rate is $54.70, about the 20th percentile. The same salary at 40 hours would be $61.54 an hour, about the 37th.
Factors That Change Physician Assistant Pay
Hours Behind a Salary
Hours change the real rate of a salaried PA. Working 45 hours a week on a salary set for 40 cuts the hourly rate by 11.1%. Enter the hours you work, not the hours in the contract.
Industry
Offices of physicians employ 53% of PAs. The highest mean wages are in other industries.
| Industry | Annual mean wage | Versus national mean |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch | $163,530 | +$22,250 |
| Employment Services | $158,830 | +$17,550 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $154,390 | +$13,110 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $152,170 | +$10,890 |
| Home Health Care Services | $151,070 | +$9,790 |
The five industries with the highest annual mean wage for physician assistants. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
State
California has the highest annual mean wage for physician assistants at $169,110.
| State | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|
| California | $169,110 |
| Washington | $164,430 |
| New Jersey | $162,100 |
| Oregon | $155,300 |
| New York | $155,150 |
The five states with the highest annual mean wage for physician assistants. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
Bonus, Call and Overtime Pay
BLS wages exclude overtime pay, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Add them in the other annual pay field. Hourly PAs can price extra shifts with the overtime pay calculator.
The Upper Tail
PA pay stretches upward. The 90th percentile is $190,280, which is $54,400 above the median. The 10th percentile is $36,500 below it. The mean of $141,280 therefore sits above the median.
Physician Assistant vs Nurse Practitioner Pay
Physician assistants and nurse practitioners earn similar wages. The PA median is $135,880 and the nurse practitioner median is $132,300, a gap of $3,580 a year.
| Occupation | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | Mean | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physician assistant (29-1071) | $99,380 | $120,670 | $135,880 | $163,980 | $190,280 | $141,280 | 162,150 |
| Nurse practitioner (29-1171) | $101,340 | $117,990 | $132,300 | $156,700 | $174,420 | $137,300 | 323,040 |
Annual wages. Source: BLS OEWS, national estimates, May 2025. Read on 2026-10-02.
The two roles differ most at the ends. At the 10th percentile, nurse practitioners earn $1,960 more. At the 90th percentile, physician assistants earn $15,860 more.
The nurse practitioner workforce is about twice as large, with 323,040 jobs against 162,150. BLS projects 21% growth for physician assistants and 36% for the advanced practice nurse group from 2025 to 2035.
When to Use the Physician Assistant Salary Calculator
Reading a Salaried Contract
Enter the salary and the weekly hours the practice expects. The hourly figure shows what the contract pays for your time.
Comparing Two Offers
Enter one offer as base pay and the other as the second offer. The tool shows both percentiles and the yearly difference.
Converting an Hourly Urgent Care Rate
Choose hourly, then set your shifts. At the median rate of $65.33, three 12-hour shifts a week pay $122,297.76 a year. The salary to hourly calculator does the conversion without the BLS comparison.
Budgeting After Tax
The result is gross pay. Read the gross vs net income guide and the tax brackets guide before you plan loan payments from it.
Common Mistakes with Physician Assistant Pay Comparisons
1. Comparing a Salary Without the Hours
A $128,000 salary is about the 37th percentile at 40 hours and about the 20th at 45 hours. The salary alone does not tell you which.
2. Counting the Bonus as Base Pay
A productivity bonus that depends on visit volume is not guaranteed. Keep it in the other annual pay field.
3. Using the Mean as the Typical Wage
The mean is $141,280 and the median is $135,880. Half of PAs earn less than the median, so the median is the better midpoint.
4. Treating the National Median as a Local Rate
The mean in California is $169,110. This page has national data only.
5. Expecting a Specialty Figure
BLS publishes one wage table for all physician assistants. It has no surgical, emergency or dermatology table, and this tool does not invent one.
Accuracy and Limitations
The conversion is exact arithmetic. The percentile is an estimate, because BLS publishes only five points of the wage distribution.
What it calculates accurately
- Annual, monthly, biweekly, weekly and hourly gross pay from your own figures.
- The BLS percentile band your hourly pay falls in.
- The dollar and percent gap to the BLS national median.
- The yearly difference between two offers on the same schedule.
What it does not account for
- Federal, state and local tax, or any payroll deduction.
- Your state, metro area, employer, experience or specialty.
- Benefits such as health insurance, retirement match and paid leave.
- Wages after May 2025. BLS updates the survey once a year.
- Specialty. BLS reports one wage table for every physician assistant.
BLS wages are straight-time gross pay. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Keep those in the other annual pay field so the comparison stays like for like.
How We Calculate Physician Assistant Pay and Percentiles
Frequently Asked Questions About Physician Assistant Salaries
How much do physician assistants make a year?
Physician assistants had a median annual wage of $135,880 in May 2025, according to BLS. The middle half earned between $120,670 and $163,980.
How much do physician assistants make an hour?
The median hourly wage for physician assistants was $65.33 in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47.78 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $91.48.
What do the top 10 percent of physician assistants earn?
The highest 10 percent of physician assistants earned more than $190,280 a year in May 2025. That is $91.48 an hour on a 2,080-hour year.
Do physician assistants earn more than nurse practitioners?
Slightly, at the median. The PA median was $135,880 and the nurse practitioner median was $132,300 in May 2025, a difference of $3,580.
Which industry pays physician assistants the most?
The federal executive branch pays the highest annual mean wage, $163,530. Employment services and outpatient care centers follow.
Which state pays physician assistants the most?
California pays the highest annual mean wage, $169,110. Washington, New Jersey, Oregon and New York are the next four.
Is the physician assistant field growing?
Yes. BLS projects 21 percent employment growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3 percent for all occupations. It expects about 11,500 openings a year.
What degree does a physician assistant need?
A physician assistant typically needs a master degree from an accredited program. All states also require a licence.
Why does the calculator compare hourly pay for a salaried PA?
BLS annual wages assume a 2,080-hour year. A PA who works more hours for the same salary earns less per hour, so the hourly rate is the fair comparison.
Does the BLS wage include call pay and bonuses?
No. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay. Overtime pay, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses are excluded. Incentive pay and production bonuses are included.
Is my pay information saved?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server. The Save button stores a result only on your own device.
Sources
- BLS OEWS Profiles, May 2025 national estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Select 29-1071 Physician Assistants or 29-1171 Nurse Practitioners. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physician Assistants (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Duties, education, employers and 2025 to 2035 outlook. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS technical notes for the May 2025 OEWS estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Defines the wage: straight-time gross pay, 2,080-hour year. Read 2026-10-02.)
- BLS May 2025 occupation profiles index (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Lists every occupation code in the May 2025 release. Read 2026-10-02.)
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Explore all career calculatorsThis physician assistant salary calculator gives an estimate for planning. It uses BLS survey data, not a pay offer, and it is not financial, tax or career advice. BLS figures are national estimates for May 2025, read on 2026-10-02. All amounts are gross pay before tax. Confirm pay with the employer before you decide. Spotted an error? Let us know.
Author
Shakeel Muzaffar is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of MultiCalculators.com, bringing over 15 years of experience in digital publishing, product strategy, and online tool development. He leads the platform's editorial vision, ensuring every calculator meets strict standards for accuracy, usability, and real-world value. Shakeel personally oversees content quality, formula verification workflows, and the platform's commitment to publishing tools that are genuinely useful for students, professionals, and everyday users worldwide.
