North Carolina Median
$129,360
per year
Hourly Rate
$62.19
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-5% vs US median
US median $135,880
State Rank
#40 of 51
7,490 employed here
How much does a Physician Assistant make in North Carolina?
Physician Assistants in North Carolina take home a median of $129,360 annually — roughly $62.19 an hour — which runs 5% below the national median of $135,880.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $101,100 while the top 10% make $164,770 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $110,320 and $140,030 a year.
Physician Assistant salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,100 | $48.61 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $110,320 | $53.04 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $129,360 | $62.19 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $140,030 | $67.32 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,770 | $79.22 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories for Physician Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Physician Assistant salary in other states
New Jersey $165,690California $165,650Washington $164,360Hawaii $164,050New York $160,880Oregon $155,780New Hampshire $150,960Alaska $150,700Vermont $150,490Massachusetts $142,410Montana $141,470Minnesota $141,190Rhode Island $139,930New Mexico $139,920Connecticut $139,860Delaware $139,350Maryland $137,560Oklahoma $136,550Wyoming $136,080Virginia $135,940District of Columbia $135,140Missouri $135,130Iowa $134,770Utah $134,740Nevada $134,660Arizona $134,650Texas $134,550Colorado $134,540Wisconsin $133,950Idaho $133,790North Dakota $133,450South Dakota $133,200Nebraska $133,040Ohio $132,090Indiana $132,050Illinois $131,950Michigan $131,510Maine $131,170Florida $129,620Louisiana $128,870West Virginia $128,610Pennsylvania $127,070Kansas $125,640South Carolina $122,490Kentucky $120,760Arkansas $118,430Tennessee $118,240Georgia $115,390Mississippi $105,920Alabama $104,960
Working as a Physician Assistant in North Carolina
Nationally, about 162,000 people work as Physician Assistants in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina pay ($129,360) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physician Assistant make in North Carolina?
The median Physician Assistant salary in North Carolina is $129,360 per year, or about $62.19 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $101,100 at the entry level to $164,770 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Physician Assistants about 5% less than the national median of $135,880. North Carolina ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Physician Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $129,360 a year. About 7,490 Physician Assistants are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Physician Assistant salary report
Related salaries
$100,330
median pay · 162,000 employed
$115,210
median pay · 29,000 employed
$105,310
median pay · 17,000 employed
$100,040
median pay · 4,000 employed
$95,780
median pay · 14,000 employed
$102,760
median pay · 267,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.