Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in Roanoke, VA: $67.53 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in Roanoke, VA runs $67.53 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $140,453 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against Roanoke's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $72.13 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $84,277 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Roanoke, Virginia, the physician assistant hourly pay is projected to be $67.53 in 2026, slightly above the national median of $67.50 per hour. This competitive rate presents ample opportunity for part-time or per-diem workers in varied healthcare settings, including operating rooms, urgent care facilities, and hospital emergency departments. With an hourly range spanning from $52.72 at the entry-level to $80.87 for top earners, physician assistants can factor in not just the pay rate but also the flexibility of schedules, enabling three-day work weeks that align with personal lifestyles. This data comes directly from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics, ensuring a reliable benchmark for current and future PA professionals in the area.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $52.72 | $421.79 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62.94 | $503.54 |
| Median (P50) | $67.53 | $540.24 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $75.68 | $605.46 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80.87 | $646.95 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Roanoke
Based on $67.53/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $67.53/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Roanoke, VA can expect to earn approximately $140,462 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $81,036. With a cost-of-living index of 93.62 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Roanoke.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Roanoke
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,701.20 | $11,705 | $140,462 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,620.72 | $7,023 | $84,277 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,080.48 | $4,682 | $56,185 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (Roanoke) | $67.53 |
| 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 Roanoke, VA earn a median of $140,453 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.04% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 7.50% above the Virginia state average of $130,654.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $67.53/hr = $84,277/year (purchasing power: $90,023).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $140,462/year (purchasing power: $150,038).
CoL index: 93.618 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$48.15/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$65.36/hr
2026 Current Est.
$67.53/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+44.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Roanoke (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48.15/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $49.74/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $58.21/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $54.11/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $51.66/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $62.38/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $65.36/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67.53/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $69.77/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in Roanoke grew 35.7% from $48.15/hr (2019) to $65.36/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $69.77/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 Roanoke 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 Roanoke
When considering part-time roles, a physician assistant working three days a week can anticipate a significantly different income profile compared to full-time counterparts. For instance, someone working 24 hours a week at this hourly rate would gross over $84,000 annually, which can be quite lucrative while allowing for additional pursuits or commitments. On the other hand, per diem physician assistant pay in Roanoke generally varies widely; locum PAs can bill between $75 and $130 per hour based on their specialty, while surgical PAs may bring home $1,200 to $1,800 daily for operating room coverage. Moreover, the choice of employer—be it a W-2 hospital system or a 1099 locum agency—also impacts pay structures and benefits. While some PAs might accept a lower hourly rate in exchange for health insurance, others prefer the higher rate of freelance opportunities despite lacking benefits. Understanding these dynamics, especially in relation to local negotiations, can empower PAs to secure compensation aligned with their preferences and needs.
More salary data for Roanoke, VA:
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 Roanoke. 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