Physician Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physician assistants in Massachusetts is $142,410/year ($68.47/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $204K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $142,282 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,347/month, or 27.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $142K get you in Massachusetts?
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Physician assistants pay in Massachusetts tracks closely to the national median, $142K locally vs. $136K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $2,347/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $142K. Top earners bring in $204K or more, a $139K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $162K | +14% | 100 |
| Springfield | $162K | +14% | 320 |
| Worcester | $153K | +7% | 470 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $142K | +0% | 3,550 |
| Pittsfield | $138K | -3% | 100 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $135K | -5% | 60 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physician assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
Yes — at the median salary of $142K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physician assistants in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physician assistants typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,913/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Massachusetts?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $142K locally vs. $136K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for physician assistants?
Massachusetts pays $142K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physician assistants make in Massachusetts?
The median is $142,410 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,220, and experienced physician assistants can clear $204,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $142K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,414/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 27.9% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (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 $142,282 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.