Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in St. Cloud, MN: $65.90 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in St. Cloud, MN runs $65.90 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $137,054 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against St. Cloud's regional price level (BEA RPP 87.6, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $75.20 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $82,240 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Cloud, Minnesota, physician assistants can expect to earn a median hourly rate of $65.90, which falls slightly below the national median of $67.50. This hourly wage is significant for those considering part-time employment or per-diem roles within various healthcare settings, including operating rooms, emergency departments, ambulatory clinics, and urgent care facilities. With an hourly range from $53.77 for entry-level positions to $87.97 for experienced professionals, physician assistants in this region have a diverse pay structure to navigate. These statistics come from official BLS data and underscore the financial aspects of working as a physician assistant in St. Cloud, where 170 practitioners are currently employed.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $53.77 | $430.14 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $56.70 | $453.62 |
| Median (P50) | $65.90 | $527.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $70.51 | $564.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $87.97 | $703.73 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Cloud
Based on $65.90/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $65.90/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Cloud, MN can expect to earn approximately $137,067 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $79,077. With a cost-of-living index of 87.63 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Cloud.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Cloud
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,635.90 | $11,422 | $137,067 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,581.54 | $6,853 | $82,240 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,054.36 | $4,569 | $54,827 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (St. Cloud) | $65.90 |
| 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 St. Cloud, MN earn a median of $137,054 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.38% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 3.40% below the Minnesota state average of $141,878.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $65.90/hr = $82,240/year (purchasing power: $93,847).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $137,067/year (purchasing power: $156,412).
CoL index: 87.632 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$55.31/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$63.78/hr
2026 Current Est.
$65.90/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+23.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in St. Cloud (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55.31/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $57.59/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $58.21/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $53.98/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $57.21/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $63.10/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $63.78/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65.90/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68.09/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in St. Cloud grew 15.3% from $55.31/hr (2019) to $63.78/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $68.09/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 St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud
Evaluating the earning potential for physician assistants who work part-time, a 24-hour workweek translates to approximately $65,000 annually, while full-time schedules yield substantially higher income. Per diem physician assistant pay in St. Cloud can vary; locum positions often charge between $75-$130 per hour, with surgical PAs specializing in orthopedics earning as much as $1,200-$1,800 daily for operating room services. The hourly rates differ based on employer type—hospital systems, surgical practices, and specialty clinics. For many PAs, the decision to accept a lower hourly pay may hinge on securing benefits like health insurance, while those who prefer higher hourly rates might opt for contract or 1099 positions without the same level of security. Negotiating effectively is crucial; PAs might consider their specialty, prior experience, and local demand to advocate for a better wage.
More salary data for St. Cloud, MN:
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 St. Cloud. 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