Physician Assistant salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Physician Assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $127,940 a year ($61.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,200 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 3% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $131,950. There are 0.68 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $134,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,160 | $50.56 |
| 25th percentile | $122,780 | $59.03 |
| Median | $127,940 | $61.51 |
| 75th percentile | $145,600 | $70.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,200 | $78.94 |
| Average (mean) | $134,170 | $64.51 |
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 | $10,661.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,330.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,920.77 |
| Weekly | $2,460.38 |
| Hourly | $61.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $127,940 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $141,080 | 40 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $139,950 | 120 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $137,420 | 110 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $136,120 | 1,260 |
| Springfield, IL | $133,750 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $133,170 | 110 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $133,060 | 50 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $131,950 | 700 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $131,400 | 240 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $130,830 | 380 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $129,620 | 100 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $128,520 | 920 |
| Rockford, IL | $127,800 | 60 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $124,990 | 60 |
| Columbus, IN | $124,460 | 60 |
| Bloomington, IN | $123,860 | 60 |
| Evansville, IN | $123,410 | 120 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $109,950 | 40 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $100,490 | $48.31 |
| Physicians, All Other | $94,820 | $45.59 |
| Pharmacist | $140,880 | $67.73 |
| Physical Therapist | $105,720 | $50.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Dental Hygienist | $100,260 | $48.20 |
| Occupational Therapist | $99,860 | $48.01 |
| Dentists, General | $156,100 | $75.05 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $73,560 | $35.36 |
| Anesthesiologist | $77,770 | $37.39 |
| Veterinarian | $148,730 | $71.51 |
| Chiropractor | $72,440 | $34.83 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $127,940 a year, or $61.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $164,200 a year. The top 25% earn $145,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,160 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $122,780 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 3,050 physician assistants are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.