Physician Assistant Salary in Winchester, VA: $130,266 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Winchester, VA earns a median $130,266/year (≈ $62.62/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Winchester's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.5), that paycheck buys what $135,061 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% below the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Physician assistants in Winchester, VA, have a projected median annual salary of $130,266 in 2026, which reflects a small shortfall of 7.21% compared to the national median of $140,391. Salary range for physician assistants in this area spans from $65,660 at the 10th percentile to as high as $166,831 for those in the 90th percentile. The data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, indicates that local surgical PAs benefit significantly from first-assist billing practices, often resulting in higher compensation. This model particularly elevates earnings within surgical specialty practices while also creating competitive pay dynamics in the local market, setting Winchester apart from regions with less robust healthcare infrastructures.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $65,660 | $31.56 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $101,626 | $48.86 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $130,266 | $62.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $134,833 | $64.82 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $166,831 | $80.21 |
Median Salary Position
7.21% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Winchester
In Winchester, VA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $101,171 (2026 est.). At $130,266, the local median is 7.21% below the national median of $140,391.
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At 40 hours/week in Winchester: You'd be above the median
How Winchester Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Winchester median: $130,266/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Winchester Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $130,658 | -0.30% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -7.21% less |
Physician Assistants in Winchester, VA earn a median of $130,266 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.21% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 0.30% below the Virginia state average of $130,658.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Winchester has a cost of living 3.55% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Winchester, VA has a cost-of-living index of 96.45 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $130,266 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $135,061 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.68% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$103,040
2025 BLS Actual
$126,080
2026 Current Est.
$130,266
2019–2027 Growth
+30.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Winchester (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $103,040 | Actual |
| 2020 | $109,110 | Actual |
| 2021 | $105,970 | Actual |
| 2022 | $110,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $106,340 | Actual |
| 2024 | $118,960 | Actual |
| 2025 | $126,080 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $130,266 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $134,591 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Winchester metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 22.4% from $103,040 (2019) to $126,080 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $134,591 by 2027 — a total increase of $31,551 (30.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Winchester 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) | $65,660 – $101,626 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $101,626 – $130,266 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $130,266 – $134,833 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $134,833 – $166,831 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Winchester
The job market for physician assistants in Winchester is solid, with approximately 100 PAs currently employed in the area. The cost of living index stands at 96.45, which is below the national average, enhancing the practical purchasing power of salaries earned here. Healthcare systems, especially hospitals and surgical specialty clinics, tend to offer the most competitive compensation packages. Variations in pay can be attributed to factors such as specialty area—where surgical roles typically yield higher earnings compared to primary care—first-assist case volume, call coverage requirements, and productivity incentives tied to RVUs. As a strategy to maximize earnings in Winchester, aspiring physician assistants should focus on gaining surgical experience and exploring opportunities within high-demand specialties. This aligns with trends in the field post-2020, where many practices have adopted a model of Optimal Team Practice, providing avenues for PAs to enhance their roles and income potential.
More salary data for Winchester, VA:
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 $126,080 for physician assistantsin the Winchester 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