Physician Assistant salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Physician Assistants in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $132,670 a year ($63.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $107,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,950 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 3% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $129,360. There are 2.2 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $135,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $107,420 | $51.65 |
| 25th percentile | $123,550 | $59.40 |
| Median | $132,670 | $63.79 |
| 75th percentile | $151,710 | $72.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,950 | $81.23 |
| Average (mean) | $135,890 | $65.33 |
Half of physician assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,055.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,527.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,102.69 |
| Weekly | $2,551.35 |
| Hourly | $63.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physician Assistant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | $142,950 | 190 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $134,300 | 220 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $133,140 | 1,680 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $131,770 | 130 |
| Wilmington, NC | $131,270 | 270 |
| Asheville, NC | $131,260 | 460 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $130,730 | 730 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $128,370 | 60 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $127,210 | 190 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $126,430 | 780 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $124,300 | 1,220 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $120,540 | 420 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $116,930 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $116,300 | 60 |
| Burlington, NC | $113,200 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 |
| California | $165,650 |
| Washington | $164,360 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 |
| New York | $160,880 |
| Oregon | $155,780 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 |
| Alaska | $150,700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 |
See Physician Assistant pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $141,360 | $67.96 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,240 | $48.19 |
| Occupational Therapist | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $83,460 | $40.13 |
| Dental Hygienist | $101,460 | $48.78 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $74,630 | $35.88 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $123,280 | $59.27 |
| Veterinarian | $132,500 | $63.70 |
| Dentists, General | $208,490 | $100.24 |
| Acupuncturist | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| Audiologist | $92,470 | $44.46 |
| Recreational Therapist | $53,100 | $25.53 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $214,620 | $103.18 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $132,670 a year, or $63.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $107,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $168,950 a year. The top 25% earn $151,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $107,420 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $123,550 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 740 physician assistants are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.