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Physician Assistants salary in Raleigh, NC

Physician Assistants in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area earn a median of $124,300 a year, an average of $127,620. About 1,220 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Physician Assistants pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$124,300
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$127,620
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$105,730
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$156,000
Top of the range
People employed
1,220
In Raleigh metro area
Rent share of median wage
14.2%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Raleigh

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,468
per month, in Raleigh, NC
Income needed for median rent
$58,700
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median physician assistants wage
$124,300
111.8% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
14.2%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$82,424
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Raleigh area. Read the Raleigh, NC cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Physician Assistants pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Long Beach, CA
+30.2%
Median $161,890
Mean $163,340
Employed 3,890
Colorado Springs, CO
+8.8%
Median $135,200
Mean $137,760
Employed 440
Virginia Beach, VA
+1.7%
Median $126,430
Mean $129,080
Employed 780
Omaha, NE
+7.9%
Median $134,130
Mean $135,930
Employed 720
Miami, FL
+6.5%
Median $132,360
Mean $137,010
Employed 2,190
Atlanta, GA
-10.0%
Median $111,810
Mean $108,080
Employed 3,970
Oakland, CA
+48.3%
Median $184,380
Mean $182,610
Employed 1,830
Mesa, AZ
+8.3%
Median $134,650
Mean $140,520
Employed 3,050

See physician assistants pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $124,300 / year
$124,300
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax North Carolina (NC)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.