Physician Assistant salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Physician Assistants in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $138,880 a year ($66.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $123,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,860 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 16% lower than the New Jersey statewide median of $165,690. There are 0.57 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $148,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $123,870 | $59.55 |
| 25th percentile | $132,060 | $63.49 |
| Median | $138,880 | $66.77 |
| 75th percentile | $162,180 | $77.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,860 | $90.80 |
| Average (mean) | $148,970 | $71.62 |
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 | $11,573.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,786.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,341.54 |
| Weekly | $2,670.77 |
| Hourly | $66.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $138,880 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $167,650 | 16,800 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $153,280 | 150 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $135,640 | 3,390 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $129,680 | 560 |
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 New Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $153,630 | $73.86 |
| Physical Therapist | $108,280 | $52.06 |
| Physicians, All Other | $279,930 | $134.58 |
| Dental Hygienist | $100,920 | $48.52 |
| Pharmacist | $138,910 | $66.79 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $94,810 | $45.58 |
| Therapists, All Other | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| Occupational Therapist | $101,370 | $48.74 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $192,090 | $92.35 |
| Dentists, General | $216,750 | $104.21 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $84,050 | $40.41 |
| Veterinarian | $150,520 | $72.36 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $121,880 | $58.60 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $138,880 a year, or $66.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $123,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $188,860 a year. The top 25% earn $162,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $123,870 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $132,060 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 140 physician assistants are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.