Physician Assistant Salary in Houston, TX
Physician Assistants in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $137,240 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $105,070 take-home, or $8,756 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physician assistant salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,672
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,509
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,990
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$105,070
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physician Assistant pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,920 | $43.71 | $72,792 | $6,066 |
| 25th percentile | $109,990 | $52.88 | $86,208 | $7,184 |
| Median (50th) | $137,240 | $65.98 | $105,070 | $8,756 |
| 75th percentile | $160,390 | $77.11 | $120,893 | $10,074 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,240 | $80.88 | $126,258 | $10,522 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $137,240 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physician assistant's $105,070 take-home pay has the buying power of $106,530 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 Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for physician assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #1 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.
Physician Assistant salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $134,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Houston, TX?
The median physician assistant salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $137,240 a year, or about $65.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $109,990 and $160,390.
What is a physician assistant’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $137,240 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $105,070 a year ($8,756 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $135,880. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $106,530 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #1 of 12 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physician assistant afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median physician assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $140,470
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,560
- Physical Therapist — $107,700
- Dental Hygienist — $104,930
- Occupational Therapist — $103,580
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $100,400
- Registered Nurse — $99,830
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $80,780
- Respiratory Therapist — $80,450
- Surgical Technologist — $71,050
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $63,670