Physician Assistant salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Physician Assistants in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $124,300 a year ($59.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,000 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 4% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $129,360. There are 1.6 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $127,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,730 | $50.83 |
| 25th percentile | $114,100 | $54.86 |
| Median | $124,300 | $59.76 |
| 75th percentile | $138,120 | $66.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,000 | $75.00 |
| Average (mean) | $127,620 | $61.36 |
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 | $10,358.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,179.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,780.77 |
| Weekly | $2,390.38 |
| Hourly | $59.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $124,300 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 other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Physician Assistant pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $84,830 | $40.78 |
| Pharmacist | $133,120 | $64.00 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $128,150 | $61.61 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,800 | $47.50 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,900 | $48.03 |
| Physicians, All Other | $354,130 | $170.26 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| Dentists, General | $207,380 | $99.70 |
| Occupational Therapist | $84,080 | $40.42 |
| Veterinarian | $130,350 | $62.67 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $291,060 | $139.93 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $69,210 | $33.27 |
| Optometrist | $163,290 | $78.51 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, NC
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $124,300 a year, or $59.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $156,000 a year. The top 25% earn $138,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,730 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $114,100 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 1,220 physician assistants are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.