Physician Assistant Salary in Pittsburgh, PA: $129,388 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Pittsburgh, PA earns a median $129,388/year (≈ $62.21/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Pittsburgh's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 94.7), that paycheck buys what $136,671 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.4% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Pittsburgh, the projected median annual salary for physician assistants in 2026 is estimated at $129,388, reflecting a competitive position within the local healthcare market. This figure is part of a broader salary spectrum that ranges from $101,905 at the P10 level to $151,808 at the P90. These estimates are drawn from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and illustrate how the first-assist billing model particularly enhances compensation for surgical PAs in specialties like orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery. Given the demand for skilled PAs and the focus on surgical roles in Pittsburgh, the compensation landscape is ultimately influenced by the case volume and the complexity of procedures performed.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $101,905 | $48.99 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $110,118 | $52.94 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $129,388 | $62.21 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $137,602 | $66.16 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $151,808 | $72.99 |
Median Salary Position
7.84% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pittsburgh
In Pittsburgh, PA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $49,903 (2026 est.). At $129,388, the local median is 7.84% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Pittsburgh: You'd be above the median
How Pittsburgh Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Pittsburgh median: $129,388/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Pittsburgh Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $129,907 | -0.40% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -7.84% less |
Physician Assistants in Pittsburgh, PA earn a median of $129,388 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.84% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 0.40% below the Pennsylvania state average of $129,907.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Pittsburgh has a cost of living 5.33% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Pittsburgh, PA has a cost-of-living index of 94.671 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $129,388 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $136,671 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.63% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$91,860
2025 BLS Actual
$125,230
2026 Current Est.
$129,388
2019–2027 Growth
+45.5%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Pittsburgh (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $91,860 | Actual |
| 2020 | $94,590 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,110 | Actual |
| 2022 | $100,840 | Actual |
| 2023 | $104,030 | Actual |
| 2024 | $111,150 | Actual |
| 2025 | $125,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $129,388 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $133,683 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 36.3% from $91,860 (2019) to $125,230 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $133,683 by 2027 — a total increase of $41,823 (45.53%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pittsburgh 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) | $101,905 – $110,118 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $110,118 – $129,388 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $129,388 – $137,602 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $137,602 – $151,808 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Pittsburgh
Understanding the local job market reveals that there are currently 2,560 physician assistants employed throughout Pittsburgh, PA. With a cost-of-living index of 94.671, the financial landscape for PAs is favorable, allowing for greater purchasing power compared to the national average. Among the highest-paying employers are hospital systems and surgical specialty practices, where first-assist roles can command significantly higher wages. Factors such as specialty focus, call coverage, and RVU productivity bonuses contribute to the disparities in physician assistant pay in Pittsburgh. PAs aiming to maximize their earnings should consider positioning themselves in high-demand surgical specialties, actively pursue additional certifications, and explore opportunities within both hospital employment and private practice, including lucrative 1099 contracts with locum agencies.
More salary data for Pittsburgh, PA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physician assistants make in Pittsburgh, PA in 2026?
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Can physician assistants make $100K in Pittsburgh?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physician assistant salary in Pittsburgh?
How much does a physician assistant make per hour in Pittsburgh?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Pennsylvania
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 $125,230 for physician assistantsin the Pittsburgh 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