Physician Assistant Salary in Chicago, IL
Physician Assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $127,940 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,525 take-home, or $7,710 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physician assistant salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,440
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,932
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,855
- Illinois income tax$6,188
- Take-home pay$92,525
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,160 | $50.56 | $77,749 | $6,479 |
| 25th percentile | $122,780 | $59.03 | $89,253 | $7,438 |
| Median (50th) | $127,940 | $61.51 | $92,525 | $7,710 |
| 75th percentile | $145,600 | $70.00 | $103,721 | $8,643 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,200 | $78.94 | $115,514 | $9,626 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $127,940 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physician assistant's $92,525 take-home pay has the buying power of $89,314 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Physician Assistant jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for physician assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $127,940 | $92,525 | $89,314 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median physician assistant salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $127,940 a year, or about $61.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $122,780 and $145,600.
What is a physician assistant’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $127,940 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $92,525 a year ($7,710 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,188 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $135,880. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $89,314 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #11 of 12 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physician assistant afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median physician assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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- Pharmacist — $140,880
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,740
- Physical Therapist — $105,720
- Registered Nurse — $100,490
- Dental Hygienist — $100,260
- Occupational Therapist — $99,860
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $98,490
- Physicians, All Other — $94,820
- Respiratory Therapist — $87,060
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $82,140
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $78,070