Physician Assistant Salary in Falls Church, VA: $120,447 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Falls Church, VA earns a median $120,447/year (≈ $57.91/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Falls Church's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 103.2), that paycheck buys what $116,712 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.8% below the Virginia state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Falls Church, Virginia, physician assistants working within the surgical specialty sectors, such as orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, can expect a median annual salary of $120,447 in 2026. The salary range for these professionals spans from $95,397 at the 10th percentile to $157,253 at the 90th percentile, highlighting considerable earning potential based on experience and specialty. These estimates, derived from BLS state-level data adjusted for regional cost disparities, indicate that Falls Church's compensation is notably lower than the national median of $140,391. This discrepancy can largely be attributed to the competitive nature of the local job market and the prevalence of surgical PAs who benefit from the first-assist billing model, enhancing their income opportunities in the region.
About the Falls Church Market
Salary estimated from Virginia average ($128,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $95,397 | $45.86 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $110,617 | $53.18 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $120,447 | $57.91 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $140,642 | $67.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $157,253 | $75.60 |
Median Salary Position
14.21% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Falls Church
In Falls Church, VA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $61,856 (2026 est.). At $120,447, the local median is 14.21% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Falls Church: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Falls Church Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Falls Church median: $120,447/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Falls Church Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $130,637 | -7.80% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -14.21% less |
Physician Assistants in Falls Church, VA earn a median of $120,447 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.21% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 7.80% below the Virginia state average of $130,637.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Falls Church has a cost of living 3.20% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Falls Church, VA has a cost-of-living index of 103.2 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $120,447 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $116,712 — a 3.1% reduction.
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
$96,312
2025 BLS Actual
$116,577
2026 Current Est.
$120,447
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Falls Church (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $96,312 | Actual |
| 2020 | $98,998 | Actual |
| 2021 | $104,266 | Actual |
| 2022 | $108,109 | Actual |
| 2023 | $111,549 | Actual |
| 2024 | $121,801 | Actual |
| 2025 | $116,577 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $120,447 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $124,446 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Falls Church metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 21.0% from $96,312 (2019) to $116,577 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $124,446 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,134 (29.21%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Falls Church 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) | $95,397 – $110,617 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $110,617 – $120,447 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $120,447 – $140,642 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $140,642 – $157,253 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Falls Church
The job market for physician assistants in Falls Church is relatively small, with only five employed in the area; however, that tight-knit environment offers unique potential for growth. The cost of living index in Falls Church stands at 103.2, suggesting living expenses here are slightly above the national average, which could impact take-home pay. Among local employers, hospital systems generally provide more robust compensation packages compared to private practices or 1099 locum agencies, especially in surgical specialties. The wide salary spread can be attributed to factors such as the type of specialty—surgical positions typically earn more—case volume, and call coverage requirements. To maximize earnings, aspiring PAs in Falls Church should focus on securing positions in high-demand specialties, leveraging RVU-based productivity bonuses, and exploring employment within larger healthcare systems, as these avenues tend to offer the most lucrative compensation structures in this market.
More salary data for Falls Church, VA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physician assistants make in Falls Church, VA in 2026?
Is Falls Church, VA a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Can physician assistants make $100K in Falls Church?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physician assistant salary in Falls Church?
How much does a physician assistant make per hour in Falls Church?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Virginia
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 $116,577 for physician assistantsin the Falls Church 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
Salary data for Falls Church is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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