Physician assistants in Pennsylvania earn a median salary of $127,070 per year, with a mean of $125,160. The median is the more useful figure for setting an offer, since it reflects the midpoint of the actual workforce rather than being pulled by a small number of high earners at the top. Budget for a range anchored to the candidate's experience level and clinical specialty.
Physician assistant salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
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The average physician assistant salary in Pennsylvania is $125,160 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $127,070 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Pennsylvania employs 9,020 physician assistants, and the $1,910 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior physician assistants in Pennsylvania typically earn around $99,050, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $158,690 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a physician assistant hire in Pennsylvania, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $127,070 |
Average Annual Salary | $125,160 |
vs. National Average | 11.4% below the national mean of $141,280 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 9,020 employed physician assistants across Pennsylvania.
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Physician assistant salary percentiles in Pennsylvania
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $99,050 |
25th Percentile | $107,260 |
75th Percentile | $137,220 |
90th Percentile | $158,690 |
Employers setting an offer for a physician assistant in Pennsylvania should expect a realistic hiring range between $99,050 for entry-level candidates and $137,220 for experienced practitioners at the 75th percentile. Roles requiring specialized clinical expertise or leadership responsibilities will push compensation toward or beyond the $158,690 mark at the 90th percentile.
Physician assistant salary by city in Pennsylvania
City | Average Annual Salary |
Philadelphia | $139,080 |
Scranton | $126,100 |
Allentown | $124,750 |
Harrisburg | $121,460 |
Pittsburgh | $120,080 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a physician assistant hire in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia commands the highest average at $139,080, which is $19,000 above Pittsburgh's average of $120,080, so employers hiring in the Philadelphia metro should plan for noticeably higher compensation expectations than those hiring in western Pennsylvania.
How Pennsylvania compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Pennsylvania | $125,160 | $127,070 |
New Jersey | $162,100 | $165,690 |
New York | $155,150 | $160,880 |
Virginia | $142,630 | $135,940 |
Maryland | $139,740 | $137,560 |
Ohio | $136,560 | $132,090 |
Pennsylvania offers employers a cost-effective market for physician assistant hiring relative to most neighboring states. The statewide mean of $125,160 sits below every comparison state in this list, with New Jersey at $162,100 and New York at $155,150 representing substantially higher compensation markets. Even Ohio, the closest peer, averages $136,560, giving Pennsylvania-based employers a meaningful budget advantage when recruiting locally.
Frequently asked questions about physician assistant salary in Pennsylvania
How much do PAs make in Pennsylvania?
How does Pennsylvania compare to other states for physician assistant salary?
Pennsylvania sits below the national mean of $141,280 by 11.4%, making it a relatively cost-effective state for physician assistant hiring. Neighboring states like New Jersey ($162,100) and New York ($155,150) carry significantly higher compensation expectations, so employers recruiting across state lines should account for those differences in their offer strategy. Even Maryland at $139,740 and Ohio at $136,560 run higher than Pennsylvania's statewide average.
What do the top-earning physician assistants make in Pennsylvania?
Physician assistants at the 90th percentile in Pennsylvania earn $158,690 per year. Roles that reach this level typically involve specialized clinical practice, leadership responsibilities, or high-demand settings. When competing for senior talent in Pennsylvania, plan your offer ceiling around this figure and factor in the Philadelphia metro, where the average already reaches $139,080.
What is the average physician assistant salary in Pennsylvania?
The average physician assistant salary in Pennsylvania is $125,160 per year. The median of $127,070 is slightly higher, which tells you the distribution skews modestly toward lower earners rather than being driven by outliers at the top. Use the median as your primary anchor when setting a competitive offer for a mid-career candidate.
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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