Physician Assistant Salary in Detroit, MI
Physician Assistants in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $131,830 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,020 take-home, or $8,002 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physician assistant salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,373
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,173
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,912
- Michigan income tax$5,352
- Take-home pay$96,020
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $3,164 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $92,856 ($7,738 a month). Choose “Detroit” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physician Assistant pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,800 | $49.90 | $77,693 | $6,474 |
| 25th percentile | $121,800 | $58.56 | $89,591 | $7,466 |
| Median (50th) | $131,830 | $63.38 | $96,020 | $8,002 |
| 75th percentile | $143,030 | $68.76 | $103,199 | $8,600 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,870 | $75.90 | $112,711 | $9,393 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,830 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physician assistant's $96,020 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,734 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Detroit, MI has 1.2× 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
Detroit, MI ranks #8 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 |
*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 Detroit, MI?
The median physician assistant salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $131,830 a year, or about $63.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $121,800 and $143,030.
What is a physician assistant’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $131,830 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $96,020 a year ($8,002 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,352 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $135,880. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,734 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #8 of 12 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physician assistant afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 14% of a median physician assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Pharmacist — $137,770
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,390
- Physical Therapist — $102,970
- Registered Nurse — $97,280
- Dental Hygienist — $84,480
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $77,530
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $69,300
- Physicians, All Other — $68,220
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $58,910
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $49,340
- Pharmacy Technician — $43,330