Entry-Level Physician Assistant Salary in Florence, SC: $51,030 (2026)
Quick Answer:New physician assistants entering the Florence, SC job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $51,030 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 29-1071, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Florence's local price level (BEA RPP 86.8 — 13% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $58,808 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($124,284) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
For new graduates entering the field as physician assistants in Florence, South Carolina, the starting salary reflects a range that may be less than they anticipate. An entry-level position offers initial compensation at around $51,030, which is notably lower than the median annual salary for the area of $124,284. This gap exemplifies the importance of gaining experience and strategic career planning as new physicians assistants can expect to progress in their earnings to approximately $107,670 within just a few years. Florence presents a viable market for recent graduates considering their first roles, especially with healthcare facilities increasingly seeking entry-level practitioners to meet growing community needs.
Career Earnings Timeline in Florence
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Florence
Entry-level physician assistants in Florence, SC typically start between $51,030 and $107,670 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $88,049 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $124,284 — 11.47% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average physician assistant program cost in South Carolina of $70,000 represents just 137.17% of the starting physician assistant pay ($51,030/year) in Florence. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates based on ARC-PA accredited master's-level PA programs. Most PA programs run 27-30 months and include didactic and clinical rotation phases. Public in-state programs are the most affordable option; private programs in high-cost metros can approach $150k. Totals reflect tuition and program fees only; PANCE certification exam fees are separate.
PA Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Florence
- 1Research the Florence market: entry-level physician assistant pay ranges from $51,030 to $107,670, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the physician assistant field — employers in SC often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Florence, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Florence for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Florence's below-average cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Physician Assistant Compensation Range
The physician assistant wage spread in Florence is $88,049 ( 172.54%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $51,030, experienced hygienists can earn up to $139,079.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$18,970
2025 BLS Actual
$49,390
2026 Current Est.
$51,030
2019–2027 Growth
+177.9%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Florence (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $18,970 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,670 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,210 | Actual |
| 2022 | $65,360 | Actual |
| 2023 | $37,440 | Actual |
| 2024 | $38,950 | Actual |
| 2025 | $49,390 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $51,030 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $52,724 | Projected |
Entry-level physician assistant compensation (10th percentile) in Florence, SC grew 160.4% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $18,970 in 2019 to $49,390 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $52,724. New graduates entering the Florence job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Florence metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.32% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your physician assistant Career in Florence
In Florence, various employers actively recruit new graduates, providing structured onboarding within primary care and urgent care settings. These opportunities often serve as an introduction for recent PA graduates to the profession, while surgical subspecialty programs may engage candidates through residency or fellowship pipelines. Credentials such as a Master’s degree from an ARC-PA accredited program, NCCPA national certification (PA-C), and a state PA license are essential in augmenting starting pay across the state. Over the first three years, developing specialized skills can significantly enhance earnings, particularly for surgical PAs in fields like orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, where first-assist billing applies. For those just starting out, navigating the professional landscape can yield substantial career growth, especially in a region that has adopted the Optimal Team Practice model, which expands the collaborative scope of practice for PAs within healthcare teams in South Carolina.
More salary data for Florence, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting salary for physician assistants in Florence in 2026?
How fast do physician assistant salaries grow in Florence?
Is physician assistant school worth it in Florence?
What do new physician assistants make right out of school in Florence?
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Related Pages
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Nearby Cities in South Carolina
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.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new physician assistant graduates. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Florence. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071).
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