Why It Matters
Understanding state‑level PA pay helps healthcare organizations tailor compensation to attract talent and manage labor costs, while informing PAs about market benchmarks for career planning.
Key Takeaways
- •California leads PA salaries at $151,351.
- •National mean PA income reaches $129,291.
- •Top ten states exceed $133,000 average compensation.
- •Salary gaps reflect cost‑of‑living and demand differences.
- •Employers may adjust offers to stay competitive regionally.
Pulse Analysis
The 2024 NCCPA compensation study offers a granular look at physician assistant earnings, revealing that geographic location remains a primary driver of salary differentials. California’s $151,351 average reflects both a high cost of living and a robust demand for advanced clinical support in its sprawling health systems. Meanwhile, states like Nevada and Connecticut surpass $140,000, suggesting that regional talent shortages and state‑specific reimbursement policies also push compensation upward.
For healthcare administrators, these figures serve as a strategic tool for workforce planning. Aligning salary structures with local market realities can reduce turnover, especially in high‑cost markets where PAs might otherwise seek opportunities in more lucrative states. Conversely, organizations in lower‑pay regions can leverage other incentives—such as loan repayment programs or flexible schedules—to remain attractive without inflating payroll budgets.
From a broader industry perspective, the widening pay gap underscores the evolving role of physician assistants as integral providers of cost‑effective care. As hospitals and clinics strive to meet value‑based care metrics, competitive PA compensation becomes essential to sustain high‑quality service delivery. Stakeholders should monitor these trends, as future policy shifts or changes in reimbursement models could further reshape the compensation landscape across the nation.
PA pay by state
Compensation for physician assistants varies widely by state, with California reporting the highest mean PA income in 2024 at $151,351, according to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants’ 2024 Statistical Profile of Board Certified PAs by State.
Nationally, the mean PA income was $129,291.
The data, released Feb. 12, reflect responses from PAs who were board certified as of Dec. 31, 2024. Income figures are based on PAs’ state of residence and reflect total income from all PA positions combined for the most recent calendar year reported by respondents. Midpoints of income ranges were used to calculate mean and median values.
Here are the average PA incomes by state in 2024:
California — $151,351
Nevada — $143,054
Connecticut — $140,744
Alaska — $140,579
Washington — $139,411
New Jersey — $138,407
New York — $137,721
Oregon — $136,381
Washington, D.C. — $134,315
Massachusetts — $134,002
Arizona — $133,548
Rhode Island — $133,485
Hawaii — $133,464
Oklahoma — $132,803
Idaho — $131,884
Maryland — $131,292
Texas — $130,372
Delaware — $130,140
Georgia — $129,483
Minnesota — $129,343
New Hampshire — $129,313
New Mexico — $127,979
Utah — $127,767
Wyoming — $127,510
Iowa — $127,376
Florida — $127,128
Virginia — $126,977
Montana — $126,243
North Dakota — $126,209
Illinois — $125,026
Mississippi — $124,255
Louisiana — $124,153
Maine — $123,947
Missouri — $123,775
South Dakota — $123,664
North Carolina — $123,080
Nebraska — $122,527
West Virginia — $122,413
Kansas — $121,926
South Carolina — $121,261
Colorado — $121,199
Wisconsin — $121,199
Vermont — $121,108
Tennessee — $119,407
Indiana — $119,295
Ohio — $119,211
Kentucky — $118,683
Pennsylvania — $118,362
Arkansas — $118,358
Michigan — $118,223
Alabama — $117,059
The post PA pay by state appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
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