The average physician assistant salary in North Carolina is $130,030 per year. The median sits close at $129,360, which means the distribution is fairly tight and the average is a reasonable planning figure for most hiring situations. Use the median as your anchor when setting a baseline offer and adjust upward based on the candidate's experience and specialization.
Physician assistant salary in North Carolina (2026)
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The average physician assistant salary in North Carolina is $130,030 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $129,360 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. North Carolina employs 7,490 physician assistants, and the $670 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior physician assistants in North Carolina typically earn around $101,100, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $164,770 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a physician assistant hire in North Carolina, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $129,360 |
Average Annual Salary | $130,030 |
vs. National Average | 8.0% below the national mean of $141,280 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 7,490 employed physician assistants across North Carolina.
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Physician assistant salary percentiles in North Carolina
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $101,100 |
25th Percentile | $110,320 |
75th Percentile | $140,030 |
90th Percentile | $164,770 |
Employers setting an offer for a physician assistant in North Carolina should expect a meaningful spread between entry-level and experienced candidates. The 10th percentile sits at $101,100 while senior specialists at the 90th percentile reach $164,770, giving you a $63,670 range to work with depending on the seniority and specialization of the role.
Physician assistant salary by city in North Carolina
City | Average Annual Salary |
Durham | $135,890 |
Winston-Salem | $133,140 |
Charlotte | $131,190 |
Greensboro | $131,080 |
Raleigh | $127,620 |
Location within North Carolina can meaningfully shift your compensation budget for a physician assistant hire. Durham leads the state at $135,890 on average, while Raleigh comes in at $127,620, a difference of $8,270 that adds up quickly across a team. Employers hiring in the Triangle or Triad regions should factor city-level variation into their offer ranges rather than relying solely on the statewide figure.
How North Carolina compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
North Carolina | $130,030 | $129,360 |
Virginia | $142,630 | $135,940 |
Florida | $134,470 | $129,620 |
South Carolina | $120,720 | $122,490 |
Tennessee | $117,300 | $118,240 |
Georgia | $112,090 | $115,390 |
North Carolina sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a moderately priced state for physician assistant hiring compared to nearby peers. Virginia commands the highest average at $142,630, which is $12,600 above North Carolina, while Georgia and Tennessee both come in well below at $112,090 and $117,300 respectively. Employers in North Carolina can expect compensation expectations that are broadly competitive with Florida but noticeably lower than Virginia.
Frequently asked questions about physician assistant salary in North Carolina
What is the average physician assistant salary in North Carolina?
What is the salary range for a physician assistant in North Carolina?
Physician assistant salaries in North Carolina range from $101,100 at the 10th percentile to $164,770 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market, between the 25th and 75th percentiles, runs from $110,320 to $140,030. When budgeting a hire, use that middle band as your core range and reserve the upper end for candidates with specialized experience or in-demand clinical skills.
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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