Physician Assistant Salary in Virginia Beach, VA: $130,627 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Virginia Beach, VA earns a median $130,627/year (≈ $62.80/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Virginia Beach's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.9), that paycheck buys what $133,373 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Virginia Beach, the median income for physician assistants is anticipated to be $130,627 in 2026, illustrating the local job market's solid compensation potential. Salary figures for this occupation range from $99,559 at the 10th percentile to $178,599 at the 90th percentile, reflecting variations in experience, specialty, and employment structure. Official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys have provided these insights, which show that PA salaries in Virginia Beach slightly lag behind the national median of $140,391 for the same year. The local market features a combination of W-2 hospital positions and 1099 surgical practice structures, leading to distinct earnings potential for those in various healthcare settings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $99,559 | $47.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $107,773 | $51.81 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $130,627 | $62.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $144,410 | $69.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $178,599 | $85.87 |
Median Salary Position
6.95% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Virginia Beach
In Virginia Beach, VA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $79,040 (2026 est.). At $130,627, the local median is 6.95% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Virginia Beach: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Virginia Beach Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Virginia Beach median: $130,627/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Virginia Beach Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $140,391 | -6.95% less |
Physician Assistants in Virginia Beach, VA earn a median of $130,627 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.95% lower than the national median of $140,391.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Virginia Beach has a cost of living 2.06% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Virginia Beach, VA has a cost-of-living index of 97.941 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $130,627 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $133,373 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.1% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$100,370
2025 BLS Actual
$126,430
2026 Current Est.
$130,627
2019–2027 Growth
+34.5%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Virginia Beach (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $100,370 | Actual |
| 2020 | $103,080 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,770 | Actual |
| 2022 | $107,060 | Actual |
| 2023 | $113,740 | Actual |
| 2024 | $125,910 | Actual |
| 2025 | $126,430 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $130,627 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $134,964 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Virginia Beach metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 26.0% from $100,370 (2019) to $126,430 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $134,964 by 2027 — a total increase of $34,594 (34.47%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Virginia Beach 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) | $99,559 – $107,773 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $107,773 – $130,627 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $130,627 – $144,410 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $144,410 – $178,599 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Virginia Beach
An essential aspect of the physician assistant job market in Virginia Beach is the employed workforce of approximately 780 PAs, which speaks to the region's demand for healthcare providers. With a cost-of-living index of 97.941, living expenses in the area are relatively affordable, allowing for decent purchasing power among healthcare professionals. Hospital systems tend to pay more, particularly for surgical specialties like orthopedics and cardiothoracic. PAs in these fields often see higher earnings due to their first-assist roles in surgeries and the potential for bonuses tied to productivity metrics. To maximize pay in Virginia Beach, aspiring physician assistants should target surgical specialties over primary care, seek opportunities with high case volumes, and consider positions with established hospital systems.
More salary data for Virginia Beach, VA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physician assistants make in Virginia Beach, VA in 2026?
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Can physician assistants make $100K in Virginia Beach?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physician assistant salary in Virginia Beach?
How much does a physician assistant make per hour in Virginia Beach?
Related Pages
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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 $126,430 for physician assistantsin the Virginia Beach 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