Physician Assistant salary in Missouri
Physician Assistants in Missouri earn a median of $135,130 a year ($64.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,650 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $135,880. Missouri ranks 22nd of 51 states for physician assistants pay. There are 0.78 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $137,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,690 | $39.76 |
| 25th percentile | $121,680 | $58.50 |
| Median | $135,130 | $64.96 |
| 75th percentile | $163,170 | $78.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,650 | $81.56 |
| Average (mean) | $137,710 | $66.21 |
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 | $11,260.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,630.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,197.31 |
| Weekly | $2,598.65 |
| Hourly | $64.96 |
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 Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Joplin, MO-KS | $150,300 | 70 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $141,080 | 40 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $138,060 | 50 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $136,120 | 1,260 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $135,340 | 40 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $133,350 | 540 |
| Columbia, MO | $132,220 | 140 |
| Springfield, MO | $129,270 | 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 Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $81,780 | $39.32 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129,930 | $62.47 |
| Pharmacist | $137,610 | $66.16 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,310 | $47.75 |
| Physicians, All Other | $227,980 | $109.61 |
| Dental Hygienist | $92,750 | $44.59 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $171,180 | $82.30 |
| Occupational Therapist | $97,290 | $46.77 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $89,280 | $42.92 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $78,390 | $37.69 |
| Dentists, General | $204,960 | $98.54 |
| Veterinarian | $114,660 | $55.12 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $65,450 | $31.47 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $242,630 | $116.65 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Missouri
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 Missouri?
The median salary for physician assistants in Missouri is $135,130 a year, or $64.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Missouri?
The top 10% of physician assistants in Missouri earn at least $169,650 a year. The top 25% earn $163,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,690 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $121,680 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Missouri?
About 2,300 physician assistants are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.