Massachusetts sits in the middle of the Northeast regional market, with a mean annual salary of $146,480 compared to $162,100 in New Jersey and $155,150 in New York. Connecticut and Rhode Island are nearly identical to Massachusetts at $146,930 and $146,630 respectively, while Pennsylvania comes in notably lower at $125,160. If you are competing for candidates who have offers from New York or New Jersey employers, expect to address the compensation gap directly in your offer package.
Physician assistant salary in Massachusetts (2026)
In this article
The average physician assistant salary in Massachusetts is $146,480 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $142,410 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Massachusetts employs 4,470 physician assistants, and the $4,070 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior physician assistants in Massachusetts typically earn around $65,220, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the 90th percentile threshold of $204,140. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a physician assistant hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $142,410 |
Average Annual Salary | $146,480 |
vs. National Average | 3.7% above the national mean of $141,280 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 4,470 employed physician assistants across Massachusetts.
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Physician assistant salary percentiles in Massachusetts
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $65,220 |
25th Percentile | $128,020 |
75th Percentile | $169,980 |
90th Percentile | $204,140 |
Employers setting an offer for a physician assistant in Massachusetts should expect that most experienced candidates will anchor their expectations between $128,020 and $169,980. Roles requiring specialized clinical experience or leadership responsibilities will push compensation toward or beyond the $204,140 threshold that senior specialists in Massachusetts typically reach.
Physician assistant salary by city in Massachusetts
City | Average Annual Salary |
Barnstable | $158,730 |
Worcester | $149,490 |
Springfield | $148,170 |
Boston | $147,520 |
Location-based compensation for physician assistants in Massachusetts varies enough that employers in different markets should set distinct salary targets rather than relying on a single statewide figure. Barnstable leads at $158,730 in average annual salary, while Boston comes in at $147,520 despite being the state's largest labor market. Employers hiring outside the Boston metro can use these figures to calibrate offers without overpaying relative to local market norms.
How Massachusetts compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Massachusetts | $146,480 | $142,410 |
New Jersey | $162,100 | $165,690 |
New York | $155,150 | $160,880 |
Connecticut | $146,930 | $139,860 |
Rhode Island | $146,630 | $139,930 |
Pennsylvania | $125,160 | $127,070 |
Massachusetts sits in the middle of the Northeast peer group, making it a moderately priced market for physician assistant talent compared to New York and New Jersey but more expensive than Pennsylvania. Employers recruiting across state lines should note that New Jersey's mean of $162,100 and New York's mean of $155,150 both exceed Massachusetts by a meaningful margin, which may affect candidate expectations for remote or hybrid roles. Connecticut and Rhode Island track very closely to Massachusetts, so compensation packages in those markets will not require significant adjustment.
Frequently asked questions about physician assistant salary in Massachusetts
How does Massachusetts compare to other states for physician assistant salary?
What do the top-earning physician assistants make in Massachusetts?
The 90th percentile for physician assistants in Massachusetts is $204,140, representing what senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. The statewide mean of $146,480 sits well below that threshold, so the top-earning segment is a distinct tier rather than the norm. When budgeting for a senior or highly specialized role, plan for compensation at or above $204,140 to remain competitive for that talent.
What is the salary range for a physician assistant in Massachusetts?
The full salary range for physician assistants in Massachusetts runs from $65,220 at the 10th percentile to $204,140 at the 90th percentile. Most candidates you will encounter in an active search will fall between the 25th and 75th percentile range of $128,020 to $169,980. Use the seniority and clinical specialization of the specific role to determine where within that band your offer should land.
What is the average physician assistant salary in Massachusetts?
The average physician assistant salary in Massachusetts is $146,480 per year, which sits 3.7% above the national mean of $141,280. The median of $142,410 is a more grounded benchmark for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of high earners pulls the average upward. For most open roles, anchoring your initial offer near the median and building in room to negotiate toward the mean will cover the majority of qualified candidates.
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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The Rippling Team
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