Physician Assistants · North Carolina

Physician Assistants Salary in North Carolina

Physician Assistants in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $129,360 —4.8% below the national median of $135,880. That ranks NC #40 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$129,360
Median hourly
$62.19
Entry level (P10)
$101,100
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$164,770
90th percentile
Employment
7,490
1.5 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-4.8%
U.S. $135,880

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$101,100
$110,320
$129,360
$140,030
$101,100$129,360$164,770
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $129,360.

Employment is 1.45× as concentrated as the national average, making North Carolina a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for physician assistants

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New Jersey$165,690$79.664,7901.07
2California$165,650$79.6413,6000.72
3Washington$164,360$79.023,5400.96
4Hawaii$164,050$78.875300.81
5New York$160,880$77.3519,1401.90
6Oregon$155,780$74.892,2501.09
7New Hampshire$150,960$72.581,0601.49
8Alaska$150,700$72.457002.07
9Vermont$150,490$72.354101.30
10Massachusetts$142,410$68.474,4701.18

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$84,350$97,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,270$64,400
Pharmacy Technicians$44,530$45,750
Physicians, All Other$260,330$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$60,650$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$128,990$132,300

Frequently asked questions

How much do physician assistants make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for physician assistants in North Carolina is $129,360, or $62.19 per hour. That is 4.8% below the national median of $135,880.

What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $101,100 per year ($48.60/hour). The 25th percentile is $110,320.

How many people work as physician assistants in North Carolina?

About 7,490 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 1.5 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for physician assistants?

North Carolina ranks #40 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.45x as concentrated as the national average, making North Carolina a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays physician assistants the most?

New Jersey has the highest median wage at $165,690 per year, followed by California ($165,650) and Washington ($164,360).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes