Physician Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physician assistants in District of Columbia is $135,140/year ($64.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $214K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $124,118 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,146/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $135K actually covers in District of Columbia, month by month
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What this looks like in District of Columbia
Physician assistants pay in District of Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $135K locally vs. $136K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $2,146/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $214K or more, a $129K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $148K | +10% | 3,020 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a physician assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 27.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physician assistants in District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physician assistants typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,292/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physician assistant a high-paying job in District of Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $136K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for physician assistants?
District of Columbia pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $124K — below the national median.
How much do physician assistants make in District of Columbia?
The median is $135,140 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,520, and experienced physician assistants can clear $213,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,873/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 27.3% 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 District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $124,118 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.