Physician Assistants Salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
The median pay for a physician assistants in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $135,000/year ($64.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $191K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $124,688 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month — about 35.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $135K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About physician assistants
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $191K or more, a $127K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $163K | +22% | 440 |
| California | $161K | +21% | 13,570 |
| Washington | $157K | +18% | 3,310 |
| New York | $153K | +15% | 19,390 |
| Oregon | $149K | +12% | 1,930 |
| Rhode Island | $142K | +6% | 600 |
| New Jersey | $140K | +5% | 2,370 |
| New Mexico | $140K | +5% | 640 |
| Minnesota | $139K | +5% | 3,790 |
| Missouri | $139K | +4% | 1,650 |
| Delaware | $139K | +4% | 690 |
| Vermont | $139K | +4% | 410 |
| Connecticut | $138K | +4% | 3,700 |
| Massachusetts | $138K | +4% | 4,310 |
| New Hampshire | $137K | +3% | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $136K | +2% | 670 |
| Virginia | $135K | +2% | 3,530 |
| Arizona | $135K | +1% | 3,540 |
| Utah | $134K | +1% | 1,670 |
| Maryland | $134K | +1% | 2,920 |
| Nevada | $133K | +0% | 1,190 |
| Iowa | $133K | +0% | 1,200 |
| Wyoming | $133K | +0% | 410 |
| Montana | $133K | -0% | 610 |
| Wisconsin | $133K | -0% | 3,040 |
| Texas | $133K | -0% | 10,030 |
| Indiana | $132K | -1% | 2,150 |
| Michigan | $132K | -1% | 5,490 |
| Maine | $131K | -2% | 930 |
| District of Columbia | $131K | -2% | 620 |
| Oklahoma | $131K | -2% | 1,780 |
| Louisiana | $130K | -3% | 1,770 |
| Idaho | $129K | -3% | 1,170 |
| North Carolina | $129K | -4% | 8,520 |
| Nebraska | $128K | -4% | 1,250 |
| South Dakota | $128K | -4% | 650 |
| Florida | $127K | -5% | 10,570 |
| Ohio | $127K | -5% | 4,530 |
| North Dakota | $126K | -5% | 520 |
| Pennsylvania | $125K | -6% | 7,760 |
| Kansas | $124K | -7% | 1,010 |
| Illinois | $123K | -8% | 3,930 |
| West Virginia | $123K | -8% | 960 |
| South Carolina | $119K | -11% | 2,050 |
| Tennessee | $114K | -14% | 2,380 |
| Kentucky | $110K | -17% | 1,250 |
| Georgia | $110K | -17% | 4,400 |
| Mississippi | $105K | -22% | 370 |
| Arkansas | $104K | -22% | 970 |
| Alabama | $102K | -24% | 770 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physician assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do physician assistants make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $135,000 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,860, and experienced physician assistants can clear $190,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,023/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 36.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a physician assistants salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physician assistants salary is worth about $124,688 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.