Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in Lincoln, NE: $63.60 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in Lincoln, NE runs $63.60 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $132,301 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against Lincoln's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.6, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $69.45 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $79,378 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Physician assistants in Lincoln, NE enjoy a median hourly pay of $63.60, which is slightly below the national median of $67.50 per hour. This pay scale provides competitive opportunities for those working part-time or per diem, as PAs typically engage in various settings such as operating rooms, emergency departments, ambulatory clinics, and urgent care centers. For those in Lincoln, hourly wages show a range from $46.72 for entry-level positions to $80.47 for experienced professionals, reflecting the responsibility and expertise associated with this vital healthcare role. These figures are grounded in official BLS projections based on 2025 data, making them a reliable source for examining employment trends and earnings in this field.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46.72 | $373.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52.48 | $419.81 |
| Median (P50) | $63.60 | $508.83 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $67.47 | $539.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80.47 | $643.72 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Lincoln
Based on $63.60/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $63.60/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Lincoln, NE can expect to earn approximately $132,296 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $76,325. With a cost-of-living index of 91.58 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Lincoln.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Lincoln
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,544.15 | $11,025 | $132,296 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,526.49 | $6,615 | $79,378 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,017.66 | $4,410 | $52,918 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (Lincoln) | $63.60 |
| 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 Lincoln, NE earn a median of $132,301 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.76% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 3.00% above the Nebraska state average of $128,448.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $63.60/hr = $79,378/year (purchasing power: $86,675).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $132,296/year (purchasing power: $144,458).
CoL index: 91.581 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$49.47/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$61.56/hr
2026 Current Est.
$63.60/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+32.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Lincoln (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49.47/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $49.01/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $49.03/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $52.42/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $56.05/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $59.00/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $61.56/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63.60/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65.72/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in Lincoln grew 24.4% from $49.47/hr (2019) to $61.56/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $65.72/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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln
In the context of part-time work, a physician assistant in Lincoln working three days a week (approximately 24 hours) could expect to earn around $79,488 annually, significantly less than a full-time colleague but still substantial in the local market, especially given Lincoln's cost of living index of 91.581. Per diem and locum tenens opportunities can prove lucrative, with some agencies offering rates as high as $130 per hour, particularly in specialties like orthopedics or emergency medicine, where day rates can reach up to $1,800. The types of employers also play a critical role in pay variability, as hospital systems typically offer stable W-2 employment with benefits, while surgical specialty clinics may compensate higher for the flexibility of 1099 arrangements. Those considering their hourly pay can negotiate by emphasizing their specialties and experience but should weigh the benefits of health insurance and job security against higher hourly compensation offered in less conventional roles or agencies.
More salary data for Lincoln, NE:
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 Lincoln. 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