Physician Assistant salary in North Carolina
Physician Assistants in North Carolina earn a median of $129,360 a year ($62.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $101,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,770 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $135,880. North Carolina ranks 40th of 51 states for physician assistants pay. There are 1.5 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $130,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,100 | $48.60 |
| 25th percentile | $110,320 | $53.04 |
| Median | $129,360 | $62.19 |
| 75th percentile | $140,030 | $67.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,770 | $79.22 |
| Average (mean) | $130,030 | $62.51 |
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 | $10,780 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,390 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,975.38 |
| Weekly | $2,487.69 |
| Hourly | $62.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $129,360 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physician Assistant salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | $142,950 | 190 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $134,300 | 220 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $133,140 | 1,680 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $132,670 | 740 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $131,770 | 130 |
| Wilmington, NC | $131,270 | 270 |
| Asheville, NC | $131,260 | 460 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $130,730 | 730 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $128,370 | 60 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $127,210 | 190 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $126,430 | 780 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $124,300 | 1,220 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $120,540 | 420 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $116,930 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $116,300 | 60 |
| Burlington, NC | $113,200 | 50 |
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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $84,350 | $40.56 |
| Physicians, All Other | $260,330 | $125.16 |
| Pharmacist | $138,860 | $66.76 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $128,990 | $62.01 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,910 | $48.03 |
| Dental Hygienist | $97,850 | $47.04 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $86,460 | $41.57 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $80,090 | $38.51 |
| Occupational Therapist | $92,940 | $44.68 |
| Dentists, General | $207,000 | $99.52 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $224,610 | $107.99 |
| Veterinarian | $129,240 | $62.14 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $67,560 | $32.48 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $289,780 | $139.32 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for physician assistants in North Carolina is $129,360 a year, or $62.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $101,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of physician assistants in North Carolina earn at least $164,770 a year. The top 25% earn $140,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $101,100 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $110,320 or less.
How many physician assistants work in North Carolina?
About 7,490 physician assistants are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.