Physician Assistant salary in Winston-Salem, NC
Physician Assistants in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn a median of $130,730 a year ($62.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 730 workers.
Pay ranges from $104,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,210 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 1% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $129,360. There are 2.7 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $133,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Winston-Salem, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,580 | $50.28 |
| 25th percentile | $117,940 | $56.70 |
| Median | $130,730 | $62.85 |
| 75th percentile | $144,470 | $69.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,210 | $81.35 |
| Average (mean) | $133,140 | $64.01 |
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 | $10,894.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,447.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,028.08 |
| Weekly | $2,514.04 |
| Hourly | $62.85 |
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 |
| Wilmington, NC | $131,270 | 270 |
| Asheville, NC | $131,260 | 460 |
| 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 Winston-Salem, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $86,120 | $41.40 |
| Physicians, All Other | $74,700 | $35.92 |
| Pharmacist | $135,710 | $65.24 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,840 | $62.90 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $80,250 | $38.58 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,270 | $48.69 |
| Dental Hygienist | $95,930 | $46.12 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $216,140 | $103.91 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $85,890 | $41.29 |
| Occupational Therapist | $93,780 | $45.09 |
| Dentists, General | $168,700 | $81.11 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $63,910 | $30.72 |
| Veterinarian | $128,530 | $61.79 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $293,840 | $141.27 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, NC?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $130,730 a year, or $62.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $104,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Winston-Salem, NC?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn at least $169,210 a year. The top 25% earn $144,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Winston-Salem, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $104,580 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $117,940 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Winston-Salem, NC?
About 730 physician assistants are employed in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.