PA Salary

Little Rock vs Sherwood: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between Little Rock, AR and Sherwood, AR. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Little Rock, AR
$112,732
$54.20/hr
Sherwood, AR
$120,301
$57.84/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLittle Rock, ARSherwood, AR
Median Salary$112,732$120,301
Hourly Rate$54.20$57.84
Entry Level (P10)$51,629$86,523
25th Percentile$102,214$109,125
75th Percentile$130,472$145,641
Top Earner (P90)$150,816$166,910
Total Employed3407
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Little Rock ($112,732) and Sherwood ($120,301) physician assistant salaries.Little RockSherwoodMedian Salary$112,732$120,301Entry Level (P10)$51,629$86,523Top Earner (P90)$150,816$166,910US Median $140,391

Verdict

Sherwood, AR offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Little Rock.

The salary gap between Little Rock and Sherwood is $7,569 (6.71%). Sherwood's median is -14.31% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Little Rock spans $99,187,Sherwood spans $80,387. Little Rock has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Little Rock
P10 (Entry)$51,629
P25$102,214
Median$112,732
P75$130,472
P90 (Top)$150,816
Sherwood
P10 (Entry)$86,523
P25$109,125
Median$120,301
P75$145,641
P90 (Top)$166,910

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Sherwood ($138,436 effective) pays 9.74% more than Little Rock ($126,149 effective).

Little Rock
Nominal: $112,732
CoL Index: 89.364
Adjusted: $126,149
Sherwood
Nominal: $120,301
CoL Index: 86.9
Adjusted: $138,436

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Little Rock if…

  • Larger job market (340 employed)
  • You prefer the Arkansas area and lifestyle

Choose Sherwood if…

  • Higher median salary ($120,301/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($166,910)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $138,436)
  • You prefer the Arkansas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in Little Rock grew 14.4% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 27.7% growth in Sherwood over the same period.

Little Rock, AR

+14.4%

$95,380 (2019) → $109,110 (2025)

Sherwood, AR

+27.7%

$91,186 (2024) → $116,435 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: Little Rock or Sherwood?

Sherwood has a higher median physician assistant salary at $120,301/year, compared to Little Rock at $112,732/year — a difference of $7,569 (6.71%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Little Rock and Sherwood?

Little Rock physician assistants earn $54.20/hr while Sherwood hygienists earn $57.84/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Little Rock to Sherwood as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Little Rock and Sherwood. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Little Rock = $126,149, Sherwood = $138,436), job availability (340 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in Little Rock vs Sherwood?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $51,629 in Little Rock and $86,523 in Sherwood. The Sherwood area offers higher starting salaries.
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