Physician Assistant Salary in Denver, CO
Physician Assistants in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $134,540 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $98,013 take-home, or $8,168 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$21,024
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,341
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,951
- Colorado income tax$5,211
- Take-home pay$98,013
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Physician Assistant pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,560 | $50.75 | $79,155 | $6,596 |
| 25th percentile | $127,920 | $61.50 | $93,779 | $7,815 |
| Median (50th) | $134,540 | $64.68 | $98,013 | $8,168 |
| 75th percentile | $161,790 | $77.78 | $115,439 | $9,620 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,590 | $84.42 | $124,264 | $10,355 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $134,540 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physician assistant's $98,013 take-home pay has the buying power of $92,655 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 about as common in Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for physician assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #66 of 71 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $223,640 | $146,400 | $132,581 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $140,160 | $107,065 | $113,038 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,290 | $125,609 | $113,026 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City, OK | $138,920 | $100,512 | $111,176 |
| 5 | Dayton, OH | $138,400 | $102,839 | $110,944 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $152,710 | $115,643 | $109,698 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $135,860 | $101,173 | $107,719 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $137,550 | $102,281 | $107,135 |
| 66 | Denver, CO | $134,540 | $98,013 | $92,655 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 71 metros →
Physician Assistant salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Colorado Springs, CO — $135,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Denver, CO?
The median physician assistant salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $134,540 a year, or about $64.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $127,920 and $161,790.
What is a physician assistant’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $134,540 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $98,013 a year ($8,168 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,211 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $135,880. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $92,655 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #66 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physician assistant afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median physician assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $168,620
- Optometrist — $158,130
- Pharmacist — $157,890
- Veterinarian — $135,090
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,040
- Dental Hygienist — $113,760
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $112,090
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $108,410
- Occupational Therapist — $107,500
- Physical Therapist — $102,340