Physician Assistant salary in Richmond, VA
Physician Assistants in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $126,810 a year ($60.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $93,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,850 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 7% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $135,940. There are 0.94 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $127,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,040 | $44.73 |
| 25th percentile | $107,810 | $51.83 |
| Median | $126,810 | $60.97 |
| 75th percentile | $143,750 | $69.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,850 | $82.62 |
| Average (mean) | $127,600 | $61.34 |
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 | $10,567.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,283.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,877.31 |
| Weekly | $2,438.65 |
| Hourly | $60.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $126,810 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $148,200 | 3,020 |
| Roanoke, VA | $135,940 | 360 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $133,540 | 130 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $128,580 | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $126,430 | 780 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $126,400 | 40 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $126,080 | 100 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $125,050 | 60 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $122,800 | 130 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $117,490 | 130 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $93,580 | $44.99 |
| Physicians, All Other | $284,090 | $136.58 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $127,820 | $61.45 |
| Pharmacist | $144,940 | $69.68 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,700 | $49.37 |
| Dental Hygienist | $104,250 | $50.12 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $96,080 | $46.19 |
| Occupational Therapist | $105,550 | $50.74 |
| Dentists, General | $218,880 | $105.23 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $81,750 | $39.31 |
| Veterinarian | $121,670 | $58.50 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $208,750 | $100.36 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $78,900 | $37.93 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $224,240 | $107.81 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Richmond, VA
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Richmond, VA metro area is $126,810 a year, or $60.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $93,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $171,850 a year. The top 25% earn $143,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $93,040 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $107,810 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Richmond, VA?
About 620 physician assistants are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.