Physician Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physician assistants in North Carolina is $129,360/year ($62.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $101K at the entry level to $165K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $139,607 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 16% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $129K get you in North Carolina?
About physician assistants
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Physician assistants pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $129K locally vs. $136K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 16.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (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, North Carolina
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $101K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $165K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | $143K | +11% | 190 |
| Fayetteville | $134K | +4% | 220 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $133K | +3% | 1,680 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $133K | +3% | 740 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $132K | +2% | 130 |
| Wilmington | $131K | +1% | 270 |
| Asheville | $131K | +1% | 460 |
| Winston-Salem | $131K | +1% | 730 |
| Goldsboro | $128K | -1% | 60 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $127K | -2% | 190 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $124K | -4% | 1,220 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $121K | -7% | 420 |
| Rocky Mount | $117K | -10% | 50 |
| Jacksonville | $116K | -10% | 60 |
| Burlington | $113K | -12% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track physician assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physician assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 16.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physician assistants in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physician assistants typically earn — is $101K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,066/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physician assistant a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $129K locally vs. $136K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for physician assistants?
North Carolina pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $140K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physician assistants make in North Carolina?
The median is $129,360 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $101,100, and experienced physician assistants can clear $164,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,779/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 16.5% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $139,607 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.