Physician Assistant Salary in Sioux Falls, SD: $140,298 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Sioux Falls, SD earns a median $140,298/year (≈ $67.45/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Sioux Falls's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.6), that paycheck buys what $154,801 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.7% above the South Dakota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Physician assistants in Sioux Falls, SD, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $140,298 in 2026, which closely aligns with the national median of $140,391. The salary range for this occupation in the local market varies significantly, from $110,201 at the 10th percentile to $163,783 at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) based on 2025 OEWS data projected to 2026, reflects the impact of specialty on earnings. As surgical specialties generally command higher compensation compared to primary care, PAs in Sioux Falls must evaluate their career strategy to maximize salary potential given the competitive nature of Philadelphia's healthcare market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $110,201 | $52.98 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $113,807 | $54.72 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $140,298 | $67.45 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $143,739 | $69.10 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $163,783 | $78.74 |
Median Salary Position
0.07% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sioux Falls
In Sioux Falls, SD, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $53,582 (2026 est.). At $140,298, the local median is 0.07% below the national median of $140,391.
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At 40 hours/week in Sioux Falls: You'd be above the median
How Sioux Falls Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Sioux Falls median: $140,298/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Sioux Falls Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Average | $130,268 | +7.70% more |
| National Average | $140,391 | -0.07% less |
Physician Assistants in Sioux Falls, SD earn a median of $140,298 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.07% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 7.70% above the South Dakota state average of $130,268.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Sioux Falls has a cost of living 9.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Sioux Falls, SD has a cost-of-living index of 90.631 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $140,298 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $154,801 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.34% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$107,170
2025 BLS Actual
$135,790
2026 Current Est.
$140,298
2019–2027 Growth
+35.3%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Sioux Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $107,170 | Actual |
| 2020 | $107,780 | Actual |
| 2021 | $121,070 | Actual |
| 2022 | $132,370 | Actual |
| 2023 | $126,580 | Actual |
| 2024 | $128,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $135,790 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $140,298 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $144,956 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Sioux Falls metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 26.7% from $107,170 (2019) to $135,790 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $144,956 by 2027 — a total increase of $37,786 (35.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sioux Falls 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) | $110,201 – $113,807 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $113,807 – $140,298 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $140,298 – $143,739 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $143,739 – $163,783 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Sioux Falls
In the Sioux Falls area, approximately 290 physician assistants are currently shaping the local healthcare landscape. The cost of living in Sioux Falls, with an index of 90.631, suggests that PAs can enjoy relatively strong purchasing power compared to many other regions. The highest-paying roles typically arise in hospital systems and surgical specialty practices, such as orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, where first-assist duties also enable increased revenue generation through case volume and productivity bonuses. Factors such as call coverage requirements, the choice between hospital employment and independent 1099 work, and the specialty of practice also contribute to variations in pay. To enhance earning potential, PAs should consider targeting surgical specialties, seeking positions with performance-based incentives, and actively pursuing opportunities for advanced certifications that align with market demands.
More salary data for Sioux Falls, SD:
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 $135,790 for physician assistantsin the Sioux Falls 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