Physician assistants at the 90th percentile in Michigan earn $162,570 per year. When competing for senior talent, plan your offer ceiling around this figure, keeping in mind that the statewide mean of $132,140 sits well below this threshold, which means the highest-compensated roles are a distinct tier above the typical market rate.
Physician assistant salary in Michigan (2026)
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The average physician assistant salary in Michigan is $132,140 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $131,510 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Michigan employs 6,310 physician assistants, and the $630 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior physician assistants in Michigan typically earn around $104,000, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $162,570 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a physician assistant hire in Michigan, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $131,510 |
Average Annual Salary | $132,140 |
vs. National Average | 6.5% below the national mean of $141,280 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 6,310 employed physician assistants across Michigan.
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Physician assistant salary percentiles in Michigan
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $104,000 |
25th Percentile | $119,990 |
75th Percentile | $143,030 |
90th Percentile | $162,570 |
Employers setting an offer for a physician assistant in Michigan should expect a realistic range from $104,000 at the entry level up to $143,030 for experienced hires, with senior specialists typically reaching $162,570 or beyond. Anchoring your offer below $119,990 will put you outside the range where most active candidates in this market are evaluating opportunities.
Physician assistant salary by city in Michigan
City | Average Annual Salary |
Ann Arbor | $137,840 |
Detroit | $132,280 |
Grand Rapids | $129,820 |
Lansing | $127,770 |
Flint | $127,050 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a physician assistant hire in Michigan. Ann Arbor commands the highest average at $137,840, which is $10,790 above Flint at $127,050, so employers hiring in the Ann Arbor market should plan for a noticeably higher compensation floor than those hiring in other parts of the state.
How Michigan compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Michigan | $132,140 | $131,510 |
Minnesota | $147,630 | $141,190 |
Indiana | $144,260 | $132,050 |
Wisconsin | $136,750 | $133,950 |
Ohio | $136,560 | $132,090 |
Illinois | $131,880 | $131,950 |
Michigan sits at the lower end of the regional peer group, which makes it a relatively cost-effective market for employers hiring physician assistants compared to neighboring states. Minnesota leads the group at a mean of $147,630, while Illinois comes in just below Michigan at $131,880, meaning compensation expectations across the Midwest are broadly similar with Michigan offering a modest budget advantage over most peers.
Frequently asked questions about physician assistant salary in Michigan
What do the top-earning physician assistants make in Michigan?
What is the salary range for a physician assistant in Michigan?
The published salary range for physician assistants in Michigan runs from $104,000 at the 10th percentile to $162,570 at the 90th percentile. For most mid-level hires, the more practical budgeting range sits between $119,990 and $143,030, which covers the 25th through 75th percentiles. Use the seniority and specialization of the specific role to determine where within that range your offer should land.
What is the average physician assistant salary in Michigan?
The average physician assistant salary in Michigan is $132,140 per year, with a median of $131,510. The close alignment between the mean and median tells you that the distribution is relatively tight, so the average is a reasonable anchor for most offers. That said, Michigan's average runs 6.5% below the national mean of $141,280, which is worth factoring in if you are competing for candidates who have offers from other states.
How does Michigan compare to other states for physician assistant salary?
Michigan's mean of $132,140 places it below most of its regional peers, with Minnesota at $147,630 and Indiana at $144,260 both paying meaningfully more on average. Wisconsin and Ohio are closer at $136,750 and $136,560 respectively, while Illinois at $131,880 is the only peer state that comes in below Michigan. If you are hiring candidates who are also fielding offers from Minnesota or Indiana, expect to address the compensation gap directly in your offer conversation.
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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