Physician Assistant Salary in Huntington, WV: $129,863 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Huntington, WV earns a median $129,863/year (≈ $62.44/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Huntington's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.4), that paycheck buys what $146,867 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% below the West Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Physician assistants in Huntington, West Virginia, can expect a median annual salary of $129,863 in 2026, reflecting the growing demand for skilled healthcare providers in the area. This salary falls within a range of $88,122 at the lower end (P10) to $166,252 at the higher end (P90). These figures are derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and highlight a compensation landscape influenced heavily by the first-assist billing model for surgical PAs. Many PAs in Huntington find themselves employed in high-demand specialties like orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, where the ability to generate revenue through surgical assistance significantly enhances both pay and job satisfaction.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $88,122 | $42.36 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $113,125 | $54.39 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $129,863 | $62.44 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $141,734 | $68.14 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $166,252 | $79.93 |
Median Salary Position
7.5% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Huntington
In Huntington, WV, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $78,130 (2026 est.). At $129,863, the local median is 7.5% below the national median of $140,391.
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At 40 hours/week in Huntington: You'd be above the median
How Huntington Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Huntington median: $129,863/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Huntington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Average | $130,778 | -0.70% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -7.50% less |
Physician Assistants in Huntington, WV earn a median of $129,863 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.50% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 0.70% below the West Virginia state average of $130,778.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Huntington has a cost of living 11.58% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Huntington, WV has a cost-of-living index of 88.422 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $129,863 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $146,867 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.09% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$104,680
2025 BLS Actual
$125,690
2026 Current Est.
$129,863
2019–2027 Growth
+28.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Huntington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $104,680 | Actual |
| 2020 | $101,110 | Actual |
| 2021 | $99,970 | Actual |
| 2022 | $119,700 | Actual |
| 2023 | $112,390 | Actual |
| 2024 | $124,210 | Actual |
| 2025 | $125,690 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $129,863 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $134,174 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Huntington metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 20.1% from $104,680 (2019) to $125,690 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $134,174 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,494 (28.18%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Huntington 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) | $88,122 – $113,125 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $113,125 – $129,863 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $129,863 – $141,734 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $141,734 – $166,252 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Huntington
The job market for physician assistants in Huntington remains vibrant, with approximately 210 professionals employed in the region. The cost of living in Huntington is relatively lower, with a cost-of-living index of 88.422, which potentially increases take-home purchasing power for PAs compared to metropolitan areas. Notably, those employed by hospital systems and surgical specialty practices tend to earn the most, especially in orthopedics and cardiothoracic fields, where first-assist billing can substantially boost income. Factors such as specialty focus, volume of first-assist cases, call coverage requirements, and productivity bonuses contribute to the disparity in compensation across the market. To maximize earnings, prospective PAs should consider specializing in high-demand fields and seeking employment with established hospital networks that recognize the value of performance-based incentives. Understanding the local healthcare landscape can provide a significant advantage for those looking to elevate their physician assistant pay in Huntington, WV.
More salary data for Huntington, WV:
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 $125,690 for physician assistantsin the Huntington 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