The median income for a physician assistant is $115,390 annually or $55.48 per hour (via Live About). Compared to the median annual income of all U.S. workers in 2021, which was $45,760 (per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), PAs are on the higher end of the earning spectrum. Considering that physician assistants are licensed medical professionals, it makes sense that it's a six-figure position.

The highest-earning 10% of PAs make more than $162,470, or $78.11 hourly, while the lowest-earning 10% make less than $76,700 or $36.87 per hour (via Live About). Reportedly, the highest paying PA positions are at outpatient clinics, with PAs in dermatology and critical care medicine also being highly paid (per The Physician Assistant Life).

According to Nursing Process, the annual pay of a PA compared to a nurse practitioner is about $10,000 less. The entry-level pay for an NP is $81,410 per year and $72,720 for a PA. Although physician assistants are not the highest-paid medical professionals, they still make far more than the average U.S. worker.