PA Salary

North Lauderdale vs Orlando: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between North Lauderdale, FL and Orlando, FL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

North Lauderdale, FL
$127,345
$61.23/hr
Orlando, FL
$131,423
$63.18/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricNorth Lauderdale, FLOrlando, FL
Median Salary$127,345$131,423
Hourly Rate$61.23$63.18
Entry Level (P10)$91,271$84,784
25th Percentile$118,109$113,879
75th Percentile$149,352$155,156
Top Earner (P90)$168,146$184,530
Total Employed71,200
Side-by-side bar chart comparing North Lauderdale ($127,345) and Orlando ($131,423) physician assistant salaries.North LauderdaleOrlandoMedian Salary$127,345$131,423Entry Level (P10)$91,271$84,784Top Earner (P90)$168,146$184,530US Median $140,391

Verdict

Orlando, FL offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to North Lauderdale.

The salary gap between North Lauderdale and Orlando is $4,078 (3.20%). Orlando's median is -6.39% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in North Lauderdale spans $76,875,Orlando spans $99,746. Orlando has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced physician assistants.

North Lauderdale
P10 (Entry)$91,271
P25$118,109
Median$127,345
P75$149,352
P90 (Top)$168,146
Orlando
P10 (Entry)$84,784
P25$113,879
Median$131,423
P75$155,156
P90 (Top)$184,530

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Orlando ($129,585 effective) pays 2.57% more than North Lauderdale ($126,334 effective).

North Lauderdale
Nominal: $127,345
CoL Index: 100.8
Adjusted: $126,334
Orlando
Nominal: $131,423
CoL Index: 101.418
Adjusted: $129,585

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose North Lauderdale if…

  • You prefer the Florida area and lifestyle

Choose Orlando if…

  • Higher median salary ($131,423/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($184,530)
  • Larger job market (1,200 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $129,585)
  • You prefer the Florida area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in North Lauderdale grew 5.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 15.6% growth in Orlando over the same period.

North Lauderdale, FL

+5.0%

$117,345 (2024) → $123,253 (2025)

Orlando, FL

+15.6%

$110,030 (2019) → $127,200 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: North Lauderdale or Orlando?

Orlando has a higher median physician assistant salary at $131,423/year, compared to North Lauderdale at $127,345/year — a difference of $4,078 (3.20%).

What is the hourly rate difference between North Lauderdale and Orlando?

North Lauderdale physician assistants earn $61.23/hr while Orlando hygienists earn $63.18/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from North Lauderdale to Orlando as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing North Lauderdale and Orlando. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: North Lauderdale = $126,334, Orlando = $129,585), job availability (7 vs 1,200 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in North Lauderdale vs Orlando?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $91,271 in North Lauderdale and $84,784 in Orlando. The North Lauderdale 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