Physician Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physician assistants in Michigan is $131,510/year ($63.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $104K at the entry level to $163K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $140,068 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 15.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $132K get you in Michigan?
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What this looks like in Michigan
Physician assistants pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $132K locally vs. $136K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 16.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $104K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $163K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants salary by metro in Michigan
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $135K | +3% | 810 |
| Traverse City | $134K | +2% | 170 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $132K | +1% | 110 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $132K | +0% | 940 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $132K | +0% | 2,400 |
| Battle Creek | $131K | -0% | 70 |
| Jackson | $131K | -1% | 50 |
| Saginaw | $130K | -1% | 120 |
| Midland | $130K | -1% | 110 |
| Niles | $128K | -2% | 60 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $128K | -2% | 260 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $128K | -3% | 210 |
| Flint | $125K | -5% | 280 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physician assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 16.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physician assistants in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physician assistants typically earn — is $104K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,240/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 20% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physician assistant a high-paying job in Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $132K locally vs. $136K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for physician assistants?
Michigan pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $140K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physician assistants make in Michigan?
The median is $131,510 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $104,000, and experienced physician assistants can clear $162,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,921/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 16.1% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $140,068 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.