Physician Assistant Salary in Boston, MA
Physician Assistants in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $142,410 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $101,703 take-home, or $8,475 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physician assistant salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,912
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,829
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,065
- Massachusetts income tax$6,901
- Take-home pay$101,703
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physician Assistant pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,220 | $31.36 | $51,543 | $4,295 |
| 25th percentile | $128,020 | $61.55 | $92,587 | $7,716 |
| Median (50th) | $142,410 | $68.47 | $101,703 | $8,475 |
| 75th percentile | $172,610 | $82.99 | $120,834 | $10,070 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $205,620 | $98.86 | $143,005 | $11,917 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $142,410 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physician assistant's $101,703 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,938 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.3× the national concentration of physician assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for physician assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #10 of 12 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $137,240 | $105,070 | $106,530 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $167,650 | $117,004 | $103,945 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $134,900 | $103,470 | $100,369 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $125,230 | $93,016 | $98,252 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $135,640 | $99,812 | $97,326 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $134,650 | $100,142 | $96,928 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $161,890 | $108,987 | $95,968 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $131,830 | $96,020 | $95,734 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $142,410 | $101,703 | $93,938 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 12 metros →
About the job: physician assistants
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +21.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Boston, MA?
The median physician assistant salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $142,410 a year, or about $68.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,020 and $172,610.
What is a physician assistant’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $142,410 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $101,703 a year ($8,475 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,901 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $135,880. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,938 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #10 of 12 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physician assistant afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median physician assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $229,870
- Nurse Practitioner — $147,480
- Pharmacist — $139,660
- Registered Nurse — $106,180
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $104,590
- Physical Therapist — $103,550
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $102,810
- Dental Hygienist — $101,990
- Occupational Therapist — $101,940
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $82,190
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $79,480