Colorado's average physician assistant salary of $139,580 places it below California ($169,110) and Washington ($164,430) but above Texas ($135,850) and Utah ($132,530). Arizona is the closest peer at $140,850, meaning compensation expectations are nearly identical across those two markets. If you are competing for candidates who are also considering California or Washington offers, plan to address the gap directly in your total compensation package.
Physician assistant salary in Colorado (2026)
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The average physician assistant salary in Colorado is $139,580 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $134,540 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Colorado employs 3,270 physician assistants, and the $5,040 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior physician assistants in Colorado typically earn around $104,590, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $174,090 threshold at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a physician assistant hire in Colorado, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $134,540 |
Average Annual Salary | $139,580 |
vs. National Average | 1.2% below the national mean of $141,280 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 3,270 employed physician assistants across Colorado.
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Physician assistant salary percentiles in Colorado
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $104,590 |
25th Percentile | $124,100 |
75th Percentile | $156,400 |
90th Percentile | $174,090 |
Employers setting an offer for a physician assistant in Colorado should expect a meaningful spread depending on experience level. Entry-level candidates typically fall near $104,590, while experienced specialists commonly reach $174,090 or beyond, giving you a $69,500 range to work with when structuring compensation tiers.
Physician assistant salary by city in Colorado
City | Average Annual Salary |
Boulder | $144,850 |
Denver | $141,060 |
Colorado Springs | $137,760 |
Fort Collins | $136,590 |
Greeley | $130,090 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a physician assistant in Colorado, so budget accordingly when hiring in higher-cost markets. Boulder leads the state at $144,850 on average, while Greeley sits at $130,090, a difference of $14,760 that can shift your compensation budget noticeably depending on where the role is based.
How Colorado compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Colorado | $139,580 | $134,540 |
California | $169,110 | $165,650 |
Washington | $164,430 | $164,360 |
Arizona | $140,850 | $134,650 |
Texas | $135,850 | $134,550 |
Utah | $132,530 | $134,740 |
Colorado sits in a mid-range position relative to nearby states, which means you can attract physician assistants without matching the compensation levels required in California or Washington. Arizona's average of $140,850 is nearly identical to Colorado's $139,580, so candidates considering both markets will not face a large pay differential. Texas at $135,850 and Utah at $132,530 both come in below Colorado, giving Colorado employers a modest edge when competing for candidates from those markets.
Frequently asked questions about physician assistant salary in Colorado
How does Colorado compare to other states for physician assistant salary?
What do the top-earning physician assistants make in Colorado?
Physician assistants at the 90th percentile in Colorado earn $174,090 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $156,400, so senior specialists with specialized skills or high-demand experience command a clear premium above the state median. When budgeting for a senior hire, anchoring your offer at or above $156,400 positions you competitively for experienced candidates.
What is the salary range for a physician assistant in Colorado?
The salary range for a physician assistant in Colorado runs from $104,590 at the 10th percentile to $174,090 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $124,100 at the 25th percentile and $156,400 at the 75th percentile. Use the seniority and specialization of your specific role to determine where within that range your offer should land.
What is the average physician assistant salary in Colorado?
The average physician assistant salary in Colorado is $139,580 per year, with a median of $134,540. The $5,040 gap between those two figures reflects a segment of higher-compensated roles pulling the average above the midpoint. For most hiring decisions, the median of $134,540 is the more practical anchor when setting an initial offer.
Physician Assistant salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1071 (Physician Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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