Physician Assistant Salary in Washington, DC: $153,120 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Washington, DC earns a median $153,120/year (≈ $73.62/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Washington's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.9), that paycheck buys what $140,627 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.8% below the District of Columbia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physician assistants in Washington, DC, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $153,120, surpassing the national median of $140,391 by 9.07%. This competitive compensation reflects the diverse nature of the local healthcare market, where specialty practice, particularly in surgical fields like orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, commands higher pay. The salary range is broad, spanning from $111,617 at the lower 10th percentile to as much as $220,846 for those at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, highlights the well-compensated nature of specialties that necessitate advanced skills and responsibilities, indicating a strong demand for physician assistants in Washington.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $111,617 | $53.66 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $134,306 | $64.57 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $153,120 | $73.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $180,066 | $86.57 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $220,846 | $106.18 |
Median Salary Position
9.07% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Washington
In Washington, DC, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $109,229 (2026 est.). At $153,120, the local median is 9.07% above the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Washington: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Washington Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Washington median: $153,120/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Washington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia Average | $164,292 | -6.80% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | +9.07% more |
Physician Assistants in Washington, DC earn a median of $153,120 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.07% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 6.80% below the District of Columbia state average of $164,292.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Washington has a cost of living 8.88% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Washington, DC has a cost-of-living index of 108.884 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $153,120 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $140,627 — a 8.16% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$111,750
2025 BLS Actual
$148,200
2026 Current Est.
$153,120
2019–2027 Growth
+41.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Washington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $111,750 | Actual |
| 2020 | $117,540 | Actual |
| 2021 | $102,890 | Actual |
| 2022 | $124,470 | Actual |
| 2023 | $125,620 | Actual |
| 2024 | $137,650 | Actual |
| 2025 | $148,200 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $153,120 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $158,204 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Washington metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 32.6% from $111,750 (2019) to $148,200 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $158,204 by 2027 — a total increase of $46,454 (41.57%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Washington 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $111,617 – $134,306 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $134,306 – $153,120 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $153,120 – $180,066 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $180,066 – $220,846 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Washington
The local job market is robust, with approximately 3,020 physician assistants employed in Washington, DC. However, the cost of living, sitting at a CoL index of 108.884, means that clear strategies for maximizing take-home pay are essential. Surgical specialties and hospital systems typically offer the highest compensation, with factors like case volume, call coverage, and RVU productivity bonuses significantly driving wages. Conversely, primary care roles tend to pay less, impacting the overall average. To optimize earnings, aspiring physician assistants should focus on surgical positions or roles within emergency departments and consider hospital employment over 1099 locum opportunities due to the stability and benefits associated with W-2 roles. Understanding the nuances of pay structures in these specialties can be crucial for those asking how much do physician assistants make in Washington.
More salary data for Washington, DC:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $148,200 for physician assistantsin the Washington metropolitan area. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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