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Physician Assistant.

Austin.

$142,000

median salary, 7% above the national average

$122,000 to $171,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

Austin is 3% more expensive than the national average. For Physician Assistants, that shakes out to a median of $142,000, with the full range spanning $122,000 to $171,000. Surgical subspecialties and emergency medicine pay the highest PA salaries, often 20 to 30% above primary care. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$122,000

per year

Median

$142,000

per year

75th Percentile

$171,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$122,000$171,000

Orbyt estimate for Physician Assistant in Austin, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $134,550 for Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071) in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area, based on 680 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$111,830

25th percentile

$130,130

Median

$134,550

75th percentile

$157,840

90th percentile

$170,450

Workers surveyed

680

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071) rather than Physician Assistant specifically. The Austin range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 29-1071

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $128,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$92,000

to $114,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$121,000

to $149,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$156,000

to $185,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$178,000

to $220,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $37,000 to the total package.

Base

$142,000

Equity

$21,000

Bonus

$13,000

Signing

$3,000

Estimated total: $179,000

How Austin compares.

Austin, TX

$142,000

Cost of living: 3% above average

National Average

$133,000

Austin is $9,000 above

Physician Assistant salary by city.

Physician Assistant salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Francisco, CA$180,000$154,000 to $216,0001.35x$133,000
San Jose, CA$176,000$151,000 to $212,0001.38x$128,000
Seattle, WA$172,000$147,000 to $206,0001.24x$139,000
Honolulu, HI$166,000$142,000 to $200,0001.30x$128,000
New York, NY$165,000$142,000 to $199,0001.28x$129,000
Washington DC, DC$161,000$138,000 to $194,0001.25x$129,000
Newark, NJ$159,000$136,000 to $191,0001.18x$135,000
Boston, MA$156,000$134,000 to $187,0001.22x$128,000
San Diego, CA$156,000$133,000 to $187,0001.17x$133,000
Austin, TX$142,000$122,000 to $171,0001.03x$138,000

See all 81 cities for Physician Assistant →

Salary by role in Austin.

Salary comparison by role in Austin
RoleMedianRange
CTO$318,000$248,000 to $414,000
CEO$289,000$210,000 to $399,000
General Counsel$288,000$225,000 to $375,000
Physician Assistant$142,000$122,000 to $171,000
AI Research Scientist$142,000$98,000 to $189,000
AI Systems Engineer$142,000$106,000 to $186,000
RAG Engineer$142,000$106,000 to $186,000
Generative AI Researcher$142,000$98,000 to $189,000

What you should know.

The Physician Assistant landscape in Austin is not what most salary sites will tell you. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Surgical subspecialties and emergency medicine pay the highest PA salaries, often 20 to 30% above primary care. Geographic location matters significantly, with rural and underserved areas offering premium pay to attract talent. Experience in procedural skills and first-assist certification further boost compensation.

Entry-level PAs earn $95,000 to $105,000 in their first role. Mid-career PAs with specialty experience reach $120,000 to $135,000. Senior PAs in surgical specialties or leadership positions can command $145,000 to $165,000 with additional administrative responsibilities. In Austin, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. PAs commonly receive productivity bonuses, CME allowances of $2,000 to $5,000 annually, malpractice insurance, and relocation assistance. Hospital systems often add shift differentials for nights, weekends, and call coverage. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $142,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for Physician Assistants in Austin runs from $122,000 to $171,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$122,000

Median

$142,000

75th

$171,000

Considering a related role?

Common questions.

Surgical PAs earn 20 to 30% more than primary care PAs on average. Orthopedic and cardiothoracic surgery PAs often exceed $140,000, while family medicine PAs typically fall in the $105,000 to $120,000 range.

Many PAs receive productivity bonuses tied to relative value units or patient encounters. These bonuses can add $5,000 to $20,000 annually, particularly in high-volume practices where PAs manage their own patient panels independently.

In Austin, large enterprises typically pay Physician Assistants 10 to 20% more in base salary than small companies, but startups often compensate with equity that can exceed base salary value. PAs commonly receive productivity bonuses, CME allowances of $2,000 to $5,000 annually, malpractice insurance, and relocation assistance. The $122,000 to $171,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

Texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Entry level Physician Assistant positions in Austin typically start near $122,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $142,000. Entry-level PAs earn $95,000 to $105,000 in their first role.

Entry-level PAs earn $95,000 to $105,000 in their first role. Mid-career PAs with specialty experience reach $120,000 to $135,000. Senior PAs in surgical specialties or leadership positions can command $145,000 to $165,000 with additional administrative responsibilities. In Austin, each step up the ladder is amplified by the local cost of living multiplier, which means senior roles pay proportionally more than in lower cost markets.

Ask about equity structure, vesting schedule, annual bonus targets, 401(k) match, health insurance premiums, PTO policy, and remote flexibility. PAs commonly receive productivity bonuses, CME allowances of $2,000 to $5,000 annually, malpractice insurance, and relocation assistance. In Austin's market, these extras can add $35,500 or more on top of the base salary.

Physician Assistant salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Austin.

Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Physician Assistants in Austin.

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"Physician Assistant Salary in Austin, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/physician-assistant/austin

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