Physician Assistant salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A physician assistant earns a median of $135,880 a year ($65.33 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $141,280. About 162,150 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $135,880
- Gross pay
- $5,226.15
- Federal income tax
- −$820.97
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$324.02
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$75.78
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $4,005.38
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $135,880
- Federal
- $21,345
- FICA
- $10,395
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $104,140
- Marginal federal rate
- 24.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Physician Assistant salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 | $162,100 | 4,790 |
| California | $165,650 | $169,110 | 13,600 |
| Washington | $164,360 | $164,430 | 3,540 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 | $146,780 | 530 |
| New York | $160,880 | $155,150 | 19,140 |
| Oregon | $155,780 | $155,300 | 2,250 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 | $150,150 | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $150,700 | $148,080 | 700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 | $152,520 | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 | $146,480 | 4,470 |
| Montana | $141,470 | $140,800 | 600 |
| Minnesota | $141,190 | $147,630 | 3,660 |
| Rhode Island | $139,930 | $146,630 | 810 |
| New Mexico | $139,920 | $134,670 | 700 |
| Connecticut | $139,860 | $146,930 | 3,570 |
| Delaware | $139,350 | $143,840 | 860 |
| Maryland | $137,560 | $139,740 | 2,950 |
| Oklahoma | $136,550 | $138,700 | 1,770 |
| Wyoming | $136,080 | $137,320 | 330 |
| Virginia | $135,940 | $142,630 | 4,340 |
| District of Columbia | $135,140 | $146,230 | 470 |
| Missouri | $135,130 | $137,710 | 2,300 |
| Iowa | $134,770 | $139,870 | 1,200 |
| Utah | $134,740 | $132,530 | 1,610 |
| Nevada | $134,660 | $135,790 | 1,090 |
| Arizona | $134,650 | $140,850 | 3,750 |
| Texas | $134,550 | $135,850 | 10,110 |
| Colorado | $134,540 | $139,580 | 3,270 |
| Wisconsin | $133,950 | $136,750 | 3,580 |
| Idaho | $133,790 | $132,540 | 1,320 |
| North Dakota | $133,450 | $130,930 | 510 |
| South Dakota | $133,200 | $131,910 | 680 |
| Nebraska | $133,040 | $132,810 | 1,330 |
| Ohio | $132,090 | $136,560 | 4,900 |
| Indiana | $132,050 | $144,260 | 2,110 |
| Illinois | $131,950 | $131,880 | 3,790 |
| Michigan | $131,510 | $132,140 | 6,310 |
| Maine | $131,170 | $134,690 | 1,030 |
| Florida | $129,620 | $134,470 | 9,310 |
| North Carolina | $129,360 | $130,030 | 7,490 |
| Louisiana | $128,870 | $130,290 | 1,360 |
| West Virginia | $128,610 | $128,830 | 1,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $127,070 | $125,160 | 9,020 |
| Kansas | $125,640 | $127,240 | 890 |
| South Carolina | $122,490 | $120,720 | 2,250 |
| Kentucky | $120,760 | $119,990 | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $118,430 | $118,430 | 850 |
| Tennessee | $118,240 | $117,300 | 2,240 |
| Georgia | $115,390 | $112,090 | 5,610 |
| Mississippi | $105,920 | $106,820 | 320 |
| Alabama | $104,960 | $110,860 | 930 |
Similar jobs
- Optometrist: $136,570
- Nurse Midwive: $134,040
- Nurse Practitioner: $132,300
- Pharmacist: $140,910
- Veterinarian: $130,100
- Medical Dosimetrist: $147,470
- Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioner: $115,210
- Podiatrist: $160,300
BLS occupation: Physician Assistants. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $65.33; the average is $67.92.
Which state pays physician assistants the most?
New Jersey ($165,690 median), followed by California and Washington.
What is the salary range for a physician assistant?
The bottom 10% earn under $99,380 and the top 10% earn over $190,280 a year.
How much is $135,880 after taxes?
About $104,140 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $93,982 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.