Physician Assistant salary in Tucson, AZ
Physician Assistants in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median of $129,880 a year ($62.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $99,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $206,680 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 4% lower than the Arizona statewide median of $134,650. There are 0.75 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $145,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Tucson, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,760 | $47.96 |
| 25th percentile | $120,880 | $58.11 |
| Median | $129,880 | $62.44 |
| 75th percentile | $162,140 | $77.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $206,680 | $99.36 |
| Average (mean) | $145,490 | $69.95 |
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 | $10,823.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,411.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,995.38 |
| Weekly | $2,497.69 |
| Hourly | $62.44 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $135,630 | 120 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $135,600 | 70 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $134,650 | 3,050 |
| Yuma, AZ | $133,290 | 30 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $129,460 | 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 Arizona statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tucson, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $94,110 | $45.25 |
| Pharmacist | $147,420 | $70.87 |
| Physicians, All Other | $357,070 | $171.67 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129,340 | $62.18 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,420 | $49.24 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $78,320 | $37.66 |
| Dental Hygienist | $96,740 | $46.51 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $95,450 | $45.89 |
| Dentists, General | $182,200 | $87.59 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $264,320 | $127.08 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,920 | $48.52 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $227,940 | $109.59 |
| Veterinarian | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $64,620 | $31.07 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Tucson, AZ
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 Tucson, AZ?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $129,880 a year, or $62.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $99,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $206,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Tucson, AZ?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn at least $206,680 a year. The top 25% earn $162,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Tucson, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $99,760 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $120,880 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Tucson, AZ?
About 290 physician assistants are employed in the Tucson, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.