Physician Assistant salary in Virginia
Physician Assistants in Virginia earn a median of $135,940 a year ($65.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $98,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,010 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $135,880. Virginia ranks 20th of 51 states for physician assistants pay. There are 1.1 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $142,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,330 | $47.27 |
| 25th percentile | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Median | $135,940 | $65.36 |
| 75th percentile | $162,790 | $78.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,010 | $102.41 |
| Average (mean) | $142,630 | $68.57 |
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 | $11,328.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,664.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,228.46 |
| Weekly | $2,614.23 |
| Hourly | $65.36 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $148,200 | 3,020 |
| Roanoke, VA | $135,940 | 360 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $133,540 | 130 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $128,580 | 60 |
| Richmond, VA | $126,810 | 620 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $126,430 | 780 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $126,400 | 40 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $126,080 | 100 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $125,050 | 60 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $122,800 | 130 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $117,490 | 130 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $93,600 | $45.00 |
| Physicians, All Other | $278,530 | $133.91 |
| Pharmacist | $144,060 | $69.26 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,450 | $48.78 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $127,810 | $61.45 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $96,250 | $46.27 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,710 | $48.42 |
| Dentists, General | $197,110 | $94.76 |
| Dental Hygienist | $102,950 | $49.50 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,910 | $39.86 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $222,630 | $107.03 |
| Veterinarian | $126,730 | $60.93 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $77,380 | $37.20 |
| Optometrist | $131,570 | $63.25 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for physician assistants in Virginia is $135,940 a year, or $65.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $98,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Virginia?
The top 10% of physician assistants in Virginia earn at least $213,010 a year. The top 25% earn $162,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $98,330 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $120,580 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Virginia?
About 4,340 physician assistants are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.