Physician Assistant salary in Kentucky
Physician Assistants in Kentucky earn a median of $120,760 a year ($58.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,820 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $135,880. Kentucky ranks 46th of 51 states for physician assistants pay. There are 0.68 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $119,990, close to the median.
Pay range for physician assistants in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,550 | $38.24 |
| 25th percentile | $102,430 | $49.25 |
| Median | $120,760 | $58.06 |
| 75th percentile | $136,080 | $65.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,820 | $77.80 |
| Average (mean) | $119,990 | $57.69 |
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 | $10,063.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,031.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,644.62 |
| Weekly | $2,322.31 |
| Hourly | $58.06 |
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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $130,830 | 380 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $128,520 | 920 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $125,690 | 210 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $124,990 | 60 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $121,710 | 80 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $112,230 | 300 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| Pharmacist | $136,530 | $65.64 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $122,870 | $59.07 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,710 | $48.42 |
| Physicians, All Other | $327,390 | $157.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $83,550 | $40.17 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $72,750 | $34.98 |
| Occupational Therapist | $97,650 | $46.95 |
| Dental Hygienist | $78,830 | $37.90 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $222,520 | $106.98 |
| Veterinarian | $104,100 | $50.05 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $248,730 | $119.58 |
| Anesthesiologist | $347,960 | $167.29 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $241,530 | $116.12 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for physician assistants in Kentucky is $120,760 a year, or $58.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of physician assistants in Kentucky earn at least $161,820 a year. The top 25% earn $136,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,550 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $102,430 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Kentucky?
About 1,360 physician assistants are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.