Physician Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physician assistants in Minnesota is $141,190/year ($67.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $112K at the entry level to $183K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $152,473 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $141K get you in Minnesota?
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Physician assistants pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $141K locally vs. $136K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,384/month, 16.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, Minnesota
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $112K. Mid-career wages sit at $141K. Top earners bring in $183K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants salary by metro in Minnesota
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $145K | +3% | 2,340 |
| Mankato | $142K | +1% | 70 |
| Rochester | $137K | -3% | 480 |
| Duluth | $136K | -4% | 200 |
| St. Cloud | $133K | -6% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track physician assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physician assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $141K, rent takes 16.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physician assistants in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physician assistants typically earn — is $112K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,743/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physician assistant a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $141K locally vs. $136K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for physician assistants?
Minnesota pays $141K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $152K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physician assistants make in Minnesota?
The median is $141,190 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $112,390, and experienced physician assistants can clear $183,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $141K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,233/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 16.8% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $152,473 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.