Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in New Orleans, LA: $61.89 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in New Orleans, LA runs $61.89 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $128,716 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against New Orleans's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.6, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $66.84 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $77,237 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In New Orleans, the projected median hourly pay for physician assistants is $61.89, which is noticeably lower than the national median of $67.50. This rate reflects what many in the field can expect to earn while working in diverse healthcare settings, including operating rooms, emergency departments, and urgent care facilities. For those who wish to work part-time, such as three days a week, this hourly wage allows for a flexible schedule while still providing a competitive income. Entry-level positions in the city typically start at around $54.02 per hour, while top earners can command rates as high as $83.98. These figures, derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics data projected into 2026, highlight both the earning potential and the variances present within the region.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $54.02 | $432.13 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61.21 | $489.65 |
| Median (P50) | $61.89 | $495.11 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $73.86 | $590.91 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $83.98 | $671.83 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in New Orleans
Based on $61.89/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $61.89/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in New Orleans, LA can expect to earn approximately $128,728 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $74,266. With a cost-of-living index of 92.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in New Orleans.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in New Orleans
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,475.55 | $10,727 | $128,728 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,485.33 | $6,436 | $77,237 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $990.22 | $4,291 | $51,491 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (New Orleans) | $61.89 |
| 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 New Orleans, LA earn a median of $128,716 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.32% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 6.10% below the Louisiana state average of $137,078.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $61.89/hr = $77,237/year (purchasing power: $83,412).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $128,728/year (purchasing power: $139,020).
CoL index: 92.597 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$46.68/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$59.90/hr
2026 Current Est.
$61.89/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+37.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in New Orleans (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46.68/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $47.40/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $49.29/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $57.73/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $61.26/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $60.81/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $59.90/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61.89/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63.94/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in New Orleans grew 28.3% from $46.68/hr (2019) to $59.90/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $63.94/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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans
Analyzing part-time earnings more closely, a physician assistant working 24 hours a week at the median hourly rate would realize an annual income of approximately $77,429. This is significantly less than what a full-time PA earning a full-time salary would bring in, aligning with standard part-time dynamics. The per diem model also reveals opportunities to earn more dynamically; locum physician assistants often bill between $75 and $130 per hour, depending on their specialty. In particular, surgical PAs can see daily earnings of $1,200 to $1,800 for operating room coverage, while emergency medicine shifts can yield between $900 and $1,400 for a 12-hour workday. Hourly rates can differ considerably across employer types, such as hospital systems with W-2 employment versus 1099 arrangements with locum agencies. This variety often presents a trade-off between higher wages without benefits and lower wages with health insurance. To negotiate effectively within the New Orleans market, it is beneficial for physician assistants to understand their worth based on specialty and be prepared to discuss compensation packages that align with their career goals.
More salary data for New Orleans, LA:
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 New Orleans. 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