Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in El Paso, TX: $53.26 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in El Paso, TX runs $53.26 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $110,780 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against El Paso's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.9, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $59.24 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $66,470 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the physician assistant hourly pay in El Paso, Texas is projected to be $53.26. This rate is significantly lower than the national hourly median of $67.50. For part-time professionals working three days a week, this hourly wage means a solid income with flexibility in scheduling, particularly beneficial in roles found in operating rooms, emergency departments, and outpatient clinics. The hourly range spans from $48.35 for entry-level positions to $72.33 for the most experienced PAs in the area. These figures, sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS data and projected to 2026, present a realistic picture of physician assistant earnings in the local healthcare environment.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48.35 | $386.83 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52.04 | $416.34 |
| Median (P50) | $53.26 | $426.09 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65.94 | $527.51 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $72.33 | $578.67 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in El Paso
Based on $53.26/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $53.26/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in El Paso, TX can expect to earn approximately $110,784 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $63,914. With a cost-of-living index of 89.91 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in El Paso.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in El Paso
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,130.46 | $9,232 | $110,784 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,278.28 | $5,539 | $66,470 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $852.18 | $3,693 | $44,314 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (El Paso) | $53.26 |
| 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 El Paso, TX earn a median of $110,780 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.09% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 19.30% below the Texas state average of $137,273.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $53.26/hr = $66,470/year (purchasing power: $73,928).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $110,784/year (purchasing power: $123,214).
CoL index: 89.912 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$42.38/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$51.55/hr
2026 Current Est.
$53.26/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+29.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in El Paso (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42.38/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $46.69/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $49.70/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $50.53/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $58.60/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $50.78/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $51.55/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $53.26/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $55.03/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in El Paso grew 21.6% from $42.38/hr (2019) to $51.55/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $55.03/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 El Paso 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 El Paso
Focusing on the nuances of physician assistant hourly pay in El Paso reveals further insights into earning potential. A PA working part-time at $53.26 for 24 hours a week would earn approximately $41,489 annually, a stark contrast to full-time counterparts. For per diem opportunities, variability is even greater; locum PAs can bill anywhere between $75 and $130 an hour, depending on their specialty. In high-demand areas such as orthopedics and emergency medicine, earning potentials rise dramatically, with surgical PAs sometimes pulling in $1,200 to $1,800 per day for operating room support, while emergency medicine roles may command $900 to $1,400 for 12-hour shifts. Differences in employer types across El Paso also affect hourly rates; hospital systems tend to offer W-2 employment with benefits, while surgical practices and urgent care centers often operate on a 1099 basis, appealing to those who prefer higher hourly rates without benefits. This choice requires careful consideration of priorities, including health insurance versus pay rates, with negotiation strategies becoming valuable for those operating on an hourly basis.
More salary data for El Paso, TX:
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 El Paso. 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