Physician Assistant salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Physician Assistants in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $128,920 a year ($61.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,260 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 5% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $122,490. There are 1.6 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $123,350, close to the median.
Pay range for physician assistants in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,790 | $37.40 |
| 25th percentile | $109,960 | $52.87 |
| Median | $128,920 | $61.98 |
| 75th percentile | $134,400 | $64.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,260 | $76.09 |
| Average (mean) | $123,350 | $59.30 |
Half of physician assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,743.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,371.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,958.46 |
| Weekly | $2,479.23 |
| Hourly | $61.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $128,920 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physician Assistant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $133,140 | 1,680 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $125,700 | 140 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $125,350 | 80 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $123,310 | 440 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $121,990 | 80 |
| Florence, SC | $120,290 | 90 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $117,240 | 350 |
| Columbia, SC | $115,840 | 400 |
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 |
| California | $165,650 |
| Washington | $164,360 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 |
| New York | $160,880 |
| Oregon | $155,780 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 |
| Alaska | $150,700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 |
See Physician Assistant pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $92,800 | $44.62 |
| Physicians, All Other | $163,900 | $78.80 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| Pharmacist | $145,950 | $70.17 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,550 | $48.82 |
| Dental Hygienist | $94,570 | $45.46 |
| Dentists, General | $121,090 | $58.22 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $79,410 | $38.18 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $98,790 | $47.50 |
| Veterinarian | $122,130 | $58.72 |
| Occupational Therapist | $98,530 | $47.37 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $255,650 | $122.91 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,550 | $36.80 |
| Chiropractor | $76,750 | $36.90 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $128,920 a year, or $61.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $158,260 a year. The top 25% earn $134,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,790 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $109,960 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 620 physician assistants are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.