Physician Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physician assistants in Oregon is $155,780/year ($74.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $123K at the entry level to $198K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $152,070 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,555/month, or 16.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $156K get you in Oregon?
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What this looks like in Oregon
Oregon sits well above the national pay line for physician assistants, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $136K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,555/month, 18% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Oregon offers a genuinely strong financial position for physician assistantss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $123K. Mid-career wages sit at $156K. Top earners bring in $198K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants salary by metro in Oregon
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $164K | +5% | 1,110 |
| Medford | $155K | -0% | 210 |
| Grants Pass | $152K | -2% | 30 |
| Bend | $149K | -5% | 220 |
| Corvallis | $147K | -6% | 80 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $145K | -7% | 240 |
| Salem | $144K | -7% | 190 |
| Albany | $142K | -9% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track physician assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physician assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
Yes — at the median salary of $156K, rent takes 18% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physician assistants in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physician assistants typically earn — is $123K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,386/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physician assistant a high-paying job in Oregon?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $156K here vs. $136K nationally.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for physician assistants?
Oregon pays $156K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $152K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physician assistants make in Oregon?
The median is $155,780 a year, that works out to about $75 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $123,100, and experienced physician assistants can clear $198,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $156K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,650/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 18% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (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 $152,070 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.