Physician Assistant Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Physician Assistants in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median $125,230 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $93,016 take-home, or $7,751 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physician assistant salary in Pittsburgh, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,789
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,764
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,816
- Pennsylvania income tax$3,845
- Take-home pay$93,016
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Pittsburgh? City residents also pay Pittsburgh’s 1% city + 2% school district — about $3,757 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $89,259 ($7,438 a month). Choose “Pittsburgh” 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 Pittsburgh, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,630 | $47.42 | $75,188 | $6,266 |
| 25th percentile | $106,580 | $51.24 | $80,537 | $6,711 |
| Median (50th) | $125,230 | $60.21 | $93,016 | $7,751 |
| 75th percentile | $133,180 | $64.03 | $98,206 | $8,184 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $146,930 | $70.64 | $107,182 | $8,932 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,230 buys in Pittsburgh, PA
Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physician assistant's $93,016 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,252 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pittsburgh, PA has 2.2× 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
Pittsburgh, PA ranks #4 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 Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $135,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median physician assistant salary in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $125,230 a year, or about $60.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $106,580 and $133,180.
What is a physician assistant’s take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA?
On the median $125,230 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $93,016 a year ($7,751 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,845 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $135,880. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,252 would in a typical U.S. city. Pittsburgh, PA ranks #4 of 12 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physician assistant afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,058 a month ($1,281 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 Pittsburgh, PA
- Physicians, All Other — $187,680
- Pharmacist — $134,180
- Registered Nurse — $82,370
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $63,060
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $47,610
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $45,210
- Pharmacy Technician — $41,780