Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in Mount Pleasant, SC: $62.15 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in Mount Pleasant, SC runs $62.15 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $129,273 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against Mount Pleasant's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.5, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $67.92 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $77,559 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, physician assistants earn a median hourly rate of $62.15, which reflects a slight decrease compared to the national median of $67.50 for 2026. With this hourly wage, part-time or per-diem physician assistants can effectively balance work across various settings such as hospital floors, operating rooms, and urgent care clinics. The hourly compensation ranges from $45.62 at the entry level, reaching up to $85.41 for those at the top of the pay scale. This range illustrates a promising earning potential for PAs in Mount Pleasant, particularly for those pursuing flexible work arrangements, as they can carve out lucrative niches in their specific areas of expertise.
About the Mount Pleasant Market
Salary estimated from South Carolina average ($115,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $45.62 | $364.93 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53.53 | $428.24 |
| Median (P50) | $62.15 | $497.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $74.45 | $595.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85.41 | $683.32 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Mount Pleasant
Based on $62.15/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $62.15/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Mount Pleasant, SC can expect to earn approximately $129,266 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $74,576. With a cost-of-living index of 91.50 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Mount Pleasant.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Mount Pleasant
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,485.88 | $10,772 | $129,266 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,491.53 | $6,463 | $77,559 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $994.35 | $4,309 | $51,706 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (Mount Pleasant) | $62.15 |
| 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 Mount Pleasant, SC earn a median of $129,273 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.92% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 1.50% above the South Carolina state average of $127,363.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $62.15/hr = $77,559/year (purchasing power: $84,764).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $129,266/year (purchasing power: $141,274).
CoL index: 91.5 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$49.69/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$60.15/hr
2026 Current Est.
$62.15/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Mount Pleasant (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49.69/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $51.08/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $53.80/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $55.78/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $57.56/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $51.33/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $60.15/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62.15/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64.21/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in Mount Pleasant grew 21.0% from $49.69/hr (2019) to $60.15/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $64.21/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 Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant
For a physician assistant working part-time in Mount Pleasant, such as a 3-day workweek totaling 24 hours, the annual earnings are notably different from full-time positions. This could translate into around $89,250 annually, which offers substantial income compared to other career paths. Additionally, per diem physician assistants often experience variations in their pay, with billing rates typically falling between $75 to $130 per hour depending on the specialty. In surgical environments, orthopedic PAs can earn substantially more, with daily rates ranging from $1,200 to $1,800 for operating room coverage. Rates vary across different types of employers, such as hospital systems and specialty practices, leading to diverse opportunities. Physician assistants may need to weigh the appeal of higher hourly wages against the benefits provided by traditional positions, such as health insurance. In negotiating their hourly rate, they should emphasize their experience and specialty, knowing that the market in Mount Pleasant is competitive.
More salary data for Mount Pleasant, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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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 Mount Pleasant. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Mount Pleasant is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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