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These Are The 10 Best Cities For Physician Assistants

By Chris Kolmar
Dec. 12, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 28, 2026

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Top 10 Cities for Physician Assistants in 2026

As you navigate your career as a Physician Assistant, understanding the regional job market is crucial for long-term success. The location you choose can significantly influence your salary, job availability, and overall career trajectory.

At Zippia, we’ve conducted extensive research to identify the cities in the U.S. that provide the most promising opportunities for physician assistants. These cities not only offer competitive salaries but also maintain a favorable cost of living and abundant job openings.

Utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we analyzed various metrics to determine which cities present the best conditions for physician assistants. Below is the updated list of the top cities for physician assistants in 2026:

  1. Rochester, MN
  2. Santa Fe, NM
  3. Manhattan, KS
  4. Brownsville, TX
  5. Corvallis, OR
  6. Grand Rapids, MI
  7. Yuba City, CA
  8. Asheville, NC
  9. Dover, DE
  10. Sioux Falls, SD

Rochester, MN stands out as the top city for aspiring physician assistants in 2026.

Conversely, if you’re considering locations with less favorable conditions, you may want to avoid Jackson, MS.

Continue reading to learn more about our research methodology and insights into the best cities for physician assistants.

How We Determined the Best Cities for Physician Assistants




At Zippia, we connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds seeking job opportunities. Our research indicates that two key factors drive job seekers’ decisions:

  • Availability of jobs
  • Competitive pay

To identify the best cities for physician assistants, we analyzed job availability and salary data. Our criteria included:

  • Location quotient: A measure of job prevalence in a specific city.
  • Average annual salary.
  • Average entry-level salary.

We adjusted salary figures to account for the cost of living in each state, allowing for a fair comparison across cities.

This research encompassed 297 metropolitan areas nationwide. For analysis, we designated the primary area of each metro as the corresponding ‘city.’ For instance, the “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” was simplified to Boston.

To rank the cities, we assigned scores for each criterion from 1 to 297, with 1 being the most favorable. The overall Job Score was calculated by averaging these rankings, allowing us to identify the best city for physician assistants.

Now, let’s explore what makes each city an ideal location for physician assistants.

1. Rochester, MN

Total Jobs: 290
Average Annual Salary: $115,120
Average Entry Level Salary: $93,060
Location Quotient: 3.63

2. Santa Fe, NM

Total Jobs: 70
Average Annual Salary: $163,070
Average Entry Level Salary: $87,270
Location Quotient: 1.57

3. Manhattan, KS

Total Jobs: 50
Average Annual Salary: $129,090
Average Entry Level Salary: $81,840
Location Quotient: 1.74

4. Brownsville, TX

Total Jobs: 140
Average Annual Salary: $133,580
Average Entry Level Salary: $94,690
Location Quotient: 1.42

5. Corvallis, OR

Total Jobs: 60
Average Annual Salary: $111,370
Average Entry Level Salary: $84,700
Location Quotient: 2.58

6. Grand Rapids, MI

Total Jobs: 590
Average Annual Salary: $113,150
Average Entry Level Salary: $82,930
Location Quotient: 1.59

7. Yuba City, CA

Total Jobs: 60
Average Annual Salary: $157,780
Average Entry Level Salary: $87,150
Location Quotient: 2.15

8. Asheville, NC

Total Jobs: 370
Average Annual Salary: $103,470
Average Entry Level Salary: $81,200
Location Quotient: 2.88

9. Dover, DE

Total Jobs: 70
Average Annual Salary: $121,160
Average Entry Level Salary: $87,250
Location Quotient: 1.67

10. Sioux Falls, SD

Total Jobs: 170
Average Annual Salary: $98,650
Average Entry Level Salary: $79,550
Location Quotient: 1.6

That’s Our List of the Best Cities for Physician Assistants

If you are embarking on your career as a physician assistant, these cities should be at the top of your list. They offer attractive salaries, ample job openings, and significant opportunities for career growth.

On the other hand, here are some cities to potentially avoid as a physician assistant:

  1. Jackson, MS
  2. Lafayette, LA
  3. Memphis, TN

Detailed List of the Best Cities for Physician Assistants

Rank State Average Salary Entry Level Salary # Of People
1 Rochester, MN $115,120 $93,060 290
2 Santa Fe, NM $163,070 $87,270 70
3 Manhattan, KS $129,090 $81,840 50
4 Brownsville, TX $133,580 $94,690 140
5 Corvallis, OR $111,370 $84,700 60
6 Grand Rapids, MI $113,150 $82,930 590
7 Yuba City, CA $157,780 $87,150 60
8 Asheville, NC $103,470 $81,200 370
9 Dover, DE $121,160 $87,250 70
10 Sioux Falls, SD $98,650 $79,550 170
11 Iowa City, IA $101,320 $83,110 140
12 Saginaw, MI $119,840 $84,770 70
13 Wilmington, NC $103,850 $81,410 170
14 Dayton, OH $113,160 $85,780 310
15 Great Falls, MT $102,170 $82,540 40
16 East Stroudsburg, PA $105,330 $79,570 90
17 Oakland, CA $118,810 $95,360 1,420
18 Kalamazoo, MI $104,940 $82,200 150
19 Carbondale, IL $115,370 $76,960 80
20 Rapid City, SD $94,700 $75,120 80
21 Casper, WY $105,690 $72,130 60
22 Huntington, WV $94,930 $66,040 270
23 Medford, OR $111,210 $87,480 80
24 Cleveland, OH $108,840 $84,120 810
25 Redding, CA $127,710 $89,010 60
26 Idaho Falls, ID $134,230 $74,190 50
27 Owensboro, KY $98,890 $80,380 40
28 Bend, OR $104,660 $85,710 90
29 Olympia, WA $129,300 $102,020 70
30 The Villages, FL $103,760 $83,360 40
31 Coeur d’Alene, ID $106,550 $76,030 50
32 Fayetteville, NC $103,990 $72,520 220
33 St. Cloud, MN $106,750 $86,240 110
34 Boise City, ID $98,310 $78,330 250
35 Billings, MT $95,430 $73,920 120
36 Pocatello, ID $96,910 $65,970 50
37 Winston, NC $96,840 $80,360 420
38 Ogden, UT $132,450 $86,500 150
39 New Bern, NC $95,660 $81,910 70
40 Jackson, MI $112,240 $85,530 40
41 Lima, OH $97,000 $75,560 40
42 Portland, ME $102,890 $79,690 290
43 Cheyenne, WY $104,830 $78,000 40
44 Tyler, TX $116,690 $78,850 70
45 Burlington, VT $107,530 $81,990 130
46 Tulsa, OK $102,990 $70,580 400
47 Niles, MI $97,120 $82,330 60
48 Greenville, NC $98,970 $72,450 150
49 Anchorage, AK $112,500 $83,240 210
50 Columbus, OH $110,310 $82,770 580
51 Farmington, NM $106,520 $77,880 40
52 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY $97,700 $79,930 360
53 Santa Cruz, CA $118,480 $105,920 70
54 Yakima, WA $102,200 $79,360 100
55 Bangor, ME $99,140 $76,830 130
56 Canton, OH $115,730 $86,020 80
57 Leominster, MA $140,860 $92,880 40
58 Flint, MI $117,520 $53,780 230
59 Dover, NH $118,800 $86,270 40
60 Longview, TX $150,520 $80,100 50
61 Watertown, NY $117,130 $85,540 70
62 Cedar Rapids, IA $133,470 $79,040 80
63 Vallejo, CA $130,660 $87,900 100
64 Manchester, NH $109,700 $83,260 130
65 Lewiston, ME $99,110 $78,310 80
66 Nashua, NH $125,740 $86,890 80
67 Peoria, IL $121,520 $78,220 140
68 Fort Wayne, IN $121,480 $76,710 110
69 Hickory, NC $98,170 $74,950 170
70 New Haven, CT $114,390 $88,580 430
71 Lansing, MI $101,840 $78,660 160
72 Rome, GA $95,590 $63,760 80
73 Boulder, CO $104,480 $84,620 180
74 Barnstable Town, MA $130,330 $87,360 80
75 Portsmouth, NH $120,730 $88,530 50
76 Seattle, WA $113,730 $83,190 860
77 South Bend, IN $138,880 $80,430 40
78 Cape Coral, FL $108,360 $79,090 200
79 Wilmington, DE $105,730 $83,440 310
80 Bismarck, ND $91,100 $78,950 60
81 Lowell, MA $135,490 $113,870 40
82 Oklahoma City, OK $99,670 $61,540 690
83 Ocala, FL $111,810 $71,460 90
84 Ann Arbor, MI $101,180 $59,610 350
85 Lincoln, NE $108,310 $66,940 150
86 Chambersburg, PA $107,140 $70,300 50
87 Spokane, WA $107,800 $73,830 190
88 Clarksville, TN $97,910 $83,710 40
89 Albuquerque, NM $98,490 $70,020 350
90 Danbury, CT $115,470 $84,690 110
91 Durham, NC $93,830 $72,620 410
92 Knoxville, TN $96,490 $65,980 370
93 North Port, FL $107,860 $72,930 280
94 Tallahassee, FL $111,630 $83,360 90
95 Las Vegas, NV $137,950 $82,400 370
96 Atlanta, GA $99,450 $71,100 1,960
97 Santa Rosa, CA $140,810 $88,190 90
98 Madera, CA $105,060 $84,260 60
99 Palm Bay, FL $106,090 $74,980 180
100 Evansville, IN $134,250 $72,730 50
Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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