Virginia ranks at the top of its regional peer group, with an average physician assistant salary of $142,630 compared to Maryland at $139,740, North Carolina at $130,030, and Georgia at $112,090. For employers, this means candidates who have worked in neighboring states may still find Virginia compensation expectations familiar, but those coming from Tennessee or Georgia may negotiate upward more aggressively. Budget accordingly when sourcing from lower-wage markets.
Physician assistant salary in Virginia (2026)
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The average physician assistant salary in Virginia is $142,630 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $135,940 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Virginia employs 4,340 physician assistants, and the $6,690 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior physician assistants in Virginia typically earn around $98,330, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $213,010 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a physician assistant hire in Virginia, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $135,940 |
Average Annual Salary | $142,630 |
vs. National Average | 1.0% above the national mean of $141,280 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 4,340 employed physician assistants across Virginia.
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Physician assistant salary percentiles in Virginia
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $98,330 |
25th Percentile | $120,580 |
75th Percentile | $162,790 |
90th Percentile | $213,010 |
Employers setting an offer for a physician assistant in Virginia should expect a wide range depending on experience level, with entry-level candidates typically landing near $98,330 and experienced specialists reaching $213,010 or beyond. The $162,790 figure at the 75th percentile is a practical anchor for mid-to-senior hires who bring specialized clinical experience to the role.
Physician assistant salary by city in Virginia
City | Average Annual Salary |
Arlington | $152,430 |
Charlottesville | $141,350 |
Roanoke | $136,220 |
Virginia Beach | $129,080 |
Richmond | $127,600 |
Location should factor into your compensation budget, since physician assistant pay varies by more than $24,000 across Virginia markets. Arlington leads the state at $152,430 in average annual pay, while Richmond sits at the lower end at $127,600. Employers hiring in the Northern Virginia corridor will need to budget meaningfully higher than those hiring in Richmond or Virginia Beach.
How Virginia compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Virginia | $142,630 | $135,940 |
Maryland | $139,740 | $137,560 |
North Carolina | $130,030 | $129,360 |
Pennsylvania | $125,160 | $127,070 |
Tennessee | $117,300 | $118,240 |
Georgia | $112,090 | $115,390 |
Virginia employers should expect compensation expectations to run higher than most neighboring states, which matters when candidates are weighing offers across state lines. Virginia's average of $142,630 leads the regional peer group, with Maryland close behind at $139,740 and North Carolina trailing at $130,030. States like Tennessee and Georgia sit considerably lower, so Virginia-based employers competing for talent from those markets may face upward pressure on offers.
Frequently asked questions about physician assistant salary in Virginia
How does Virginia compare to other states for physician assistant salary?
What do the top-earning physician assistants make in Virginia?
Physician assistants at the 90th percentile in Virginia earn $213,010 per year. When competing for senior or highly specialized talent, plan for offers that approach or exceed this threshold, particularly in high-cost markets like Arlington where the average already reaches $152,430. The spread between the median and the 90th percentile is wide enough that role specialization and years of experience will drive significant differences in what candidates expect.
What is the salary range for a physician assistant in Virginia?
The salary range for a physician assistant in Virginia runs from $98,330 at the 10th percentile to $213,010 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $120,580 at the 25th percentile and $162,790 at the 75th percentile, which is the range most employers will be working within for experienced but not top-tier candidates. Use the seniority and clinical specialization of the role to determine where within that band your offer should land.
What is the average physician assistant salary in Virginia?
The average physician assistant salary in Virginia is $142,630 per year, which sits 1.0% above the national mean of $141,280. The median of $135,940 is a more grounded benchmark for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of higher-compensated roles pulls the average upward. For budgeting purposes, start with the median and adjust based on the seniority and specialization of the specific position you are filling.
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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