Physician Assistant salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Physician Assistants in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $119,840 a year ($57.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $103,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,750 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 1% higher than the Arkansas statewide median of $118,430. There are 0.72 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $131,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,490 | $49.76 |
| 25th percentile | $113,380 | $54.51 |
| Median | $119,840 | $57.61 |
| 75th percentile | $152,210 | $73.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,750 | $79.69 |
| Average (mean) | $131,270 | $63.11 |
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 | $9,986.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,993.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,609.23 |
| Weekly | $2,304.62 |
| Hourly | $57.61 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | $138,920 | 1,020 |
| Tulsa, OK | $134,380 | 350 |
| Lawton, OK | $132,220 | 30 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $130,810 | 180 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $124,870 | 40 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $122,720 | 30 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $121,900 | 290 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $117,660 | 30 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $109,110 | 340 |
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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129,270 | $62.15 |
| Physicians, All Other | $258,130 | $124.10 |
| Pharmacist | $133,520 | $64.19 |
| Physical Therapist | $98,730 | $47.47 |
| Dental Hygienist | $84,480 | $40.62 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $81,300 | $39.09 |
| Occupational Therapist | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| Dentists, General | $165,060 | $79.36 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $78,080 | $37.54 |
| Therapists, All Other | $70,520 | $33.90 |
| Optometrist | $109,200 | $52.50 |
| Veterinarian | $104,110 | $50.06 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $55,880 | $26.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $119,840 a year, or $57.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $103,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $165,750 a year. The top 25% earn $152,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $103,490 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $113,380 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 70 physician assistants are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.