Physician Assistants
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Physician Assistants in the United States earn a median salary of $135,880 per year — about $65 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 163K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +20%.
AI & Automation Risk
Physician assistants perform a mix of high-level knowledge work and physical clinical tasks. While AI will significantly augment diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and administrative documentation, the role requires physical presence for examinations, surgical procedures, and hands-on treatments like stitching wounds, as well as complex interpersonal counseling that is difficult to automate.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $223,640 | Above avg (113.1) | $197,808 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $198,070 | Average (102.4) | $193,449 |
| Yuba City, CA | $183,460 | Above avg (103.8) | $176,781 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $150,300 | Below avg (85.2) | $176,431 |
| Midland, TX | $158,200 | Below avg (95.4) | $165,858 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $161,980 | Average (97.9) | $165,411 |
| Springfield, MA | $161,770 | Average (98.1) | $164,957 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $168,080 | Average (101.9) | $164,935 |
| Merced, CA | $164,080 | Average (99.6) | $164,709 |
| Farmington, NM | $142,890 | Below avg (87.0) | $164,204 |
| Vallejo, CA | $179,520 | Above avg (109.4) | $164,157 |
| Visalia, CA | $166,510 | Average (101.5) | $164,082 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $141,080 | Below avg (86.1) | $163,940 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $161,470 | Average (98.6) | $163,803 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $164,910 | Average (101.2) | $162,956 |