Physician Assistant salary in Wilmington, NC
Physician Assistants in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $131,270 a year ($63.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $98,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,480 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 1% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $129,360. There are 1.4 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $131,140, close to the median.
Pay range for physician assistants in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,760 | $47.48 |
| 25th percentile | $112,710 | $54.19 |
| Median | $131,270 | $63.11 |
| 75th percentile | $155,480 | $74.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,480 | $74.75 |
| Average (mean) | $131,140 | $63.05 |
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 | $10,939.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,469.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,048.85 |
| Weekly | $2,524.42 |
| Hourly | $63.11 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | $142,950 | 190 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $134,300 | 220 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $133,140 | 1,680 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $132,670 | 740 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $131,770 | 130 |
| Asheville, NC | $131,260 | 460 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $130,730 | 730 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $128,370 | 60 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $127,210 | 190 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $126,430 | 780 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $124,300 | 1,220 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $120,540 | 420 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $116,930 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $116,300 | 60 |
| Burlington, NC | $113,200 | 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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $80,970 | $38.93 |
| Pharmacist | $151,790 | $72.98 |
| Physical Therapist | $98,770 | $47.49 |
| Physicians, All Other | $252,960 | $121.62 |
| Dental Hygienist | $96,700 | $46.49 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $124,990 | $60.09 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $82,410 | $39.62 |
| Occupational Therapist | $86,420 | $41.55 |
| Dentists, General | $185,720 | $89.29 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $81,020 | $38.95 |
| Veterinarian | $131,670 | $63.30 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $62,080 | $29.85 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $218,830 | $105.21 |
| Optometrist | $163,800 | $78.75 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, NC
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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $131,270 a year, or $63.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $98,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $155,480 a year. The top 25% earn $155,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $98,760 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $112,710 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Wilmington, NC?
About 270 physician assistants are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.