PA Salary

Liberty vs St. Louis: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between Liberty, MO and St. Louis, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Liberty, MO
$138,200
$66.45/hr
St. Louis, MO
$140,639
$67.61/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLiberty, MOSt. Louis, MO
Median Salary$138,200$140,639
Hourly Rate$66.45$67.61
Entry Level (P10)$102,078$80,197
25th Percentile$122,425$128,199
75th Percentile$161,482$170,168
Top Earner (P90)$182,178$176,636
Total Employed51,260
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Liberty ($138,200) and St. Louis ($140,639) physician assistant salaries.LibertySt. LouisMedian Salary$138,200$140,639Entry Level (P10)$102,078$80,197Top Earner (P90)$182,178$176,636US Median $140,391

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Liberty.

The salary gap between Liberty and St. Louis is $2,439 (1.76%). St. Louis's median is +0.18% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Liberty spans $80,100,St. Louis spans $96,439. St. Louis has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced physician assistants.

Liberty
P10 (Entry)$102,078
P25$122,425
Median$138,200
P75$161,482
P90 (Top)$182,178
St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$80,197
P25$128,199
Median$140,639
P75$170,168
P90 (Top)$176,636

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Liberty ($154,241 effective) pays 4.28% more than St. Louis ($147,904 effective).

Liberty
Nominal: $138,200
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $154,241
St. Louis
Nominal: $140,639
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $147,904

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Liberty if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($182,178)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $154,241)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($140,639/year)
  • Larger job market (1,260 employed)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in Liberty grew 28.4% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 35.0% growth in St. Louis over the same period.

Liberty, MO

+28.4%

$104,193 (2024) → $133,759 (2025)

St. Louis, MO

+35.0%

$100,810 (2019) → $136,120 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: Liberty or St. Louis?

St. Louis has a higher median physician assistant salary at $140,639/year, compared to Liberty at $138,200/year — a difference of $2,439 (1.76%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Liberty and St. Louis?

Liberty physician assistants earn $66.45/hr while St. Louis hygienists earn $67.61/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Liberty to St. Louis as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Liberty and St. Louis. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Liberty = $154,241, St. Louis = $147,904), job availability (5 vs 1,260 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in Liberty vs St. Louis?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $102,078 in Liberty and $80,197 in St. Louis. The Liberty area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JT

Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C

Career Analyst

Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Chen, PA-CData verified by Amina Patel, MSPAS, PA-C

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.32% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov