How much do physician assistants make in Pennsylvania?
What physician assistants earn in Pennsylvania and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country (May 2025 BLS data).
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Median pay in Pennsylvania
$127,070
a year, or $61.09 an hour. That is 6% less than the national median of $135,880.
The middle half of physician assistants in Pennsylvania earn $107,260 to $137,220.
Pay range in Pennsylvania
- Bottom 10% earn under
- $99,050
- 25th percentile
- $107,260
- Median
- $127,070
- 75th percentile
- $137,220
- Top 10% earn over
- $158,690
Rank among states
#42 of 50
Pennsylvania pays physician assistants more than 8 of the other 49 states. Highest: New Jersey ($165,690).
Jobs in Pennsylvania
9,020
1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the state, 1.43× the U.S. concentration.
Physician Assistant pay in Pennsylvania cities
Metro and rural (nonmetropolitan) areas as BLS defines them, including metro areas that cross into neighboring states.. Click a column to sort.
| Area | Pay a year | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $65.21 | 3,390 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $60.21 | 2,560 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $59.19 | 580 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $62.35 | 560 | |
| Lancaster, PA | $59.65 | 340 | |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $60.69 | 310 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $53.08 | 300 | |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $59.64 | 300 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | $60.83 | 290 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $59.36 | 290 | |
| Altoona, PA | $59.27 | 190 | |
| Reading, PA | $62.58 | 190 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $61.72 | 180 | |
| Erie, PA | $53.49 | 170 | |
| Williamsport, PA | $60.06 | 150 | |
| Lebanon, PA | $66.24 | 90 | |
| Johnstown, PA | $62.40 | 80 | |
| State College, PA | $61.77 | 80 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | $57.71 | 70 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | $59.87 | 30 |
States with similar physician assistant pay
Maine
$131,170
median a year · +3% vs Pennsylvania
Florida
$129,620
median a year · +2% vs Pennsylvania
North Carolina
$129,360
median a year · +2% vs Pennsylvania
Louisiana
$128,870
median a year · +1% vs Pennsylvania
West Virginia
$128,610
median a year · +1% vs Pennsylvania
Kansas
$125,640
median a year · −1% vs Pennsylvania
Other healthcare salaries in Pennsylvania
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
$29,420
median a year · 257,370 jobs
Registered Nurses
$96,430
median a year · 146,520 jobs
Nursing Assistants
$44,590
median a year · 67,740 jobs
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
$63,940
median a year · 38,260 jobs
Physicians, All Other
$217,310
median a year · 23,800 jobs
Medical Assistants
$43,920
median a year · 23,050 jobs
Pharmacy Technicians
$40,040
median a year · 18,880 jobs
Pharmacists
$138,160
median a year · 14,090 jobs
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
$46,720
median a year · 13,200 jobs
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
$51,680
median a year · 13,020 jobs
Dental Assistants
$47,930
median a year · 12,080 jobs
Physical Therapists
$101,380
median a year · 11,710 jobs
Questions about physician assistant pay in Pennsylvania
How much does a physician assistant make in Pennsylvania?
Physician Assistants in Pennsylvania earned a median of $127,070 a year ($61.09 an hour) in May 2025, 6% less than the national median of $135,880. The middle half earned $107,260 to $137,220.
Where in Pennsylvania do physician assistants earn the most?
Among areas in Pennsylvania, pay was highest in Lebanon, PA at $137,770.
How does Pennsylvania rank for physician assistant pay?
Pennsylvania ranks #42 of 50 states for physician assistants pay. New Jersey pays the most, at $165,690 a year. Pay figures don't account for differences in cost of living.
How many physician assistants work in Pennsylvania?
About 9,020 people worked as physician assistants in Pennsylvania in May 2025, or 1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the state.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Median pay is the middle wage; where BLS publishes no median, the average (mean) is shown, marked "(avg)". Values marked "+" are above the most BLS reports exactly. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.