Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in Fairbanks, AK: $81.91 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in Fairbanks, AK runs $81.91 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $170,385 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against Fairbanks's regional price level (BEA RPP 103.2, 3% above national), each hour of work buys what $79.37 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $102,226 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fairbanks, Alaska, the projected physician assistant hourly pay for 2026 stands at $81.91, significantly surpassing the national hourly median of $67.50. This favorable rate translates to solid earnings for part-time workers, such as those opting for a three-day workweek, allowing the flexibility to balance personal commitments while still achieving a respectable income. For per diem roles, often found in various healthcare settings like operating rooms and emergency departments, hourly wages can range from $62.80 at the entry-level to $101.36 for top earners, reflecting the skill and specialized knowledge that well-trained PAs bring to the table. This information is sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, ensuring an accurate representation of current trends within this vital healthcare profession.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $62.80 | $502.38 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $68.78 | $550.24 |
| Median (P50) | $81.91 | $655.30 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99.65 | $797.22 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $101.36 | $810.86 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Fairbanks
Based on $81.91/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $81.91/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Fairbanks, AK can expect to earn approximately $170,377 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $98,295. With a cost-of-living index of 103.21 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Fairbanks.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Fairbanks
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $3,276.48 | $14,198 | $170,377 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,965.89 | $8,519 | $102,226 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,310.59 | $5,679 | $68,151 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (Fairbanks) | $81.91 |
| Nurse Practitioner (National Avg) | $63.20 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
| Family Medicine Physician (National Avg) | $116.45 |
| Physical Therapist (National Avg) | $48.18 |
Physician Assistants in Fairbanks, AK earn a median of $170,385 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.36% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 14.40% above the Alaska state average of $148,938.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $81.91/hr = $102,226/year (purchasing power: $99,049).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $170,377/year (purchasing power: $165,081).
CoL index: 103.208 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$67.48/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$79.28/hr
2026 Current Est.
$81.91/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+25.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Fairbanks (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $67.48/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $65.46/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $61.79/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $64.54/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $67.29/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $64.17/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $79.28/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $81.91/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $84.63/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in Fairbanks grew 17.5% from $67.48/hr (2019) to $79.28/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $84.63/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem physician assistants can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fairbanks 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.
Working as an Hourly Physician Assistant in Fairbanks
Focusing on part-time earnings, a physician assistant working three days a week, or 24 hours, can expect an annual take-home totaling around $100,571, which contrasts with the earnings of a full-time PA. In the realm of per diem work, physician assistants have the potential to command rates between $75 to $130 per hour based on their specialty, with surgical PAs in orthopedics frequently billing upwards of $1,200 to $1,800 for a day's coverage in the OR. Emergency medicine offers lucrative shifts, with 12-hour tackles often resulting in compensation from $900 to $1,400. In Fairbanks, hourly rates can vary significantly across different employer types, including hospital systems, surgical specialty practices, and urgent care clinics, making negotiation an essential skill. Many PAs may accept lower hourly wages in exchange for health benefits, while others may aim for higher compensation without such perks. Effective negotiation tactics could involve leveraging specialty training or asking for a review after six months, particularly in a market as unique as AK's.
More salary data for Fairbanks, AK:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for physician assistants in Fairbanks. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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