Physician Assistants Salary
The median pay for a physician assistants in Washington is $164,360/year ($79.02/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $126K at the entry level to $218K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $161,121 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 17.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $164K get you in Washington?
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for physician assistants, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $136K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,830/month, 17.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Washington offers a genuinely strong financial position for physician assistantss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $126K. Mid-career wages sit at $164K. Top earners bring in $218K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants salary by metro in Washington
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $168K | +2% | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $167K | +2% | 1,920 |
| Walla Walla | $162K | -1% | 30 |
| Bellingham | $161K | -2% | 120 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $154K | -6% | 120 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $154K | -6% | 90 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $154K | -6% | 70 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $148K | -10% | 350 |
| Yakima | $137K | -17% | 120 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physician assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $164K, rent takes 17.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physician assistants in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physician assistants typically earn — is $126K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,535/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physician assistant a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $164K here vs. $136K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for physician assistants?
Washington pays $164K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $161K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physician assistants make in Washington?
The median is $164,360 a year, that works out to about $79 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $125,580, and experienced physician assistants can clear $218,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $164K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,258/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 17.8% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $161,121 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.