Physician Assistant salary in Illinois
Physician Assistants in Illinois earn a median of $131,950 a year ($63.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $162,330 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $135,880. Illinois ranks 36th of 51 states for physician assistants pay. There are 0.62 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $131,880, close to the median.
Pay range for physician assistants in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,160 | $50.56 |
| 25th percentile | $122,780 | $59.03 |
| Median | $131,950 | $63.44 |
| 75th percentile | $145,600 | $70.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,330 | $78.04 |
| Average (mean) | $131,880 | $63.41 |
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 | $10,995.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,497.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,075 |
| Weekly | $2,537.50 |
| Hourly | $63.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physician Assistant salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $141,080 | 40 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $139,950 | 120 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $137,420 | 110 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $136,120 | 1,260 |
| Springfield, IL | $133,750 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $133,170 | 110 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $127,940 | 3,050 |
| Rockford, IL | $127,800 | 60 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $124,990 | 60 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $95,990 | $46.15 |
| Physicians, All Other | $132,540 | $63.72 |
| Pharmacist | $139,080 | $66.86 |
| Physical Therapist | $105,250 | $50.60 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,680 | $62.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $95,080 | $45.71 |
| Dental Hygienist | $96,670 | $46.48 |
| Occupational Therapist | $99,700 | $47.93 |
| Dentists, General | $156,110 | $75.06 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $84,090 | $40.43 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $73,520 | $35.35 |
| Veterinarian | $133,580 | $64.22 |
| Chiropractor | $66,650 | $32.04 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $245,120 | $117.84 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for physician assistants in Illinois is $131,950 a year, or $63.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $162,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Illinois?
The top 10% of physician assistants in Illinois earn at least $162,330 a year. The top 25% earn $145,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,160 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $122,780 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Illinois?
About 3,790 physician assistants are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.