Physician Assistant salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Physician Assistants in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $126,430 a year ($60.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 780 workers.
Pay ranges from $96,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,860 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 1.0 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $129,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,360 | $46.33 |
| 25th percentile | $104,310 | $50.15 |
| Median | $126,430 | $60.78 |
| 75th percentile | $139,770 | $67.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,860 | $83.11 |
| Average (mean) | $129,080 | $62.06 |
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 | $10,535.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,267.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,862.69 |
| Weekly | $2,431.35 |
| Hourly | $60.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $126,430 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 |
| Greenville, NC | $142,950 | 190 |
| Roanoke, VA | $135,940 | 360 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $134,300 | 220 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $133,540 | 130 |
| 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 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $128,580 | 60 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $128,370 | 60 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $127,210 | 190 |
| Richmond, VA | $126,810 | 620 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $126,400 | 40 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $126,080 | 100 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $125,050 | 60 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $124,300 | 1,220 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $122,800 | 130 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $120,540 | 420 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $117,490 | 130 |
| 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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $89,450 | $43.00 |
| Pharmacist | $136,280 | $65.52 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $124,530 | $59.87 |
| Physicians, All Other | $266,280 | $128.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,890 | $47.54 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $99,400 | $47.79 |
| Dentists, General | $177,400 | $85.29 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $80,990 | $38.94 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $213,690 | $102.73 |
| Veterinarian | $122,010 | $58.66 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,600 | $36.83 |
| Cardiologist | $430,900 | $207.16 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $126,430 a year, or $60.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $96,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $172,860 a year. The top 25% earn $139,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $96,360 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $104,310 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 780 physician assistants are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.