Physician Assistants Salary
The mean pay for a physician assistants in Arkansas is $118,430/year ($56.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $88K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. BLS does not publish the median for this occupation because wages exceed the reportable ceiling. The figure shown is the mean (average). Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $135,132 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 13.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $118K (mean) get you in Arkansas?
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for physician assistants in Arkansas runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $136K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 14% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Arkansas can be a reasonable trade-off for physician assistantss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $88K. Mid-career wages sit at $118K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $131K | +10% | 180 |
| Hot Springs | $123K | +4% | 30 |
| Fort Smith | $120K | +1% | 70 |
| Jonesboro | $118K | -1% | 30 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $109K | -8% | 340 |
Compare to other states
Track physician assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physician assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $118K, rent takes 14% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physician assistants in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physician assistants typically earn — is $88K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,290/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 19% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physician assistant a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $118K here vs. $136K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for physician assistants?
Arkansas pays $118K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $135K — below the national median.
How much do physician assistants make in Arkansas?
BLS reports a mean (average) wage of $118,430 a year for this occupation in Arkansas. The median is not published because wages exceed the BLS reportable ceiling. Entry-level workers start around $88,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $118K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,271/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 14% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physician assistants salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physician assistants salary is worth about $135,132 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physician assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.