Best cities for a physician assistant
The best cities for physician assistants are New York, NY, Toledo, OH, and Lexington, KY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for physician assistants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for physician assistants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a physician assistant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for physician assistants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for physician assistants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a physician assistant. While the absolute best city for physician assistants is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for physician assistants in 2024.
If you're looking for a physician assistant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for physician assistants in 2025
1. New York, NY
Physician assistant jobs in New YorkTotal physician assistant jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $155,064 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $257,000 Location quotient: 0.84 2. Toledo, OH
Physician assistant jobs in ToledoTotal physician assistant jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $126,494 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location quotient: 0.60 3. Lexington, KY
Physician assistant jobs in LexingtonTotal physician assistant jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $116,897 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location quotient: 0.91 4. Buffalo, NY
Physician assistant jobs in BuffaloTotal physician assistant jobs: 50 Average annual salary: $149,701 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location quotient: 0.87 5. Boston, MA
Physician assistant jobs in BostonTotal physician assistant jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $172,215 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $285,000 Location quotient: 0.47 6. Corpus Christi, TX
Physician assistant jobs in Corpus ChristiTotal physician assistant jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $105,793 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 1.01 7. Laredo, TX
Physician assistant jobs in LaredoTotal physician assistant jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $105,775 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 1.44 8. Newark, NJ
Physician assistant jobs in NewarkTotal physician assistant jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $152,342 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $253,000 Location quotient: 0.60 9. Cleveland, OH
Physician assistant jobs in ClevelandTotal physician assistant jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $131,816 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000 Location quotient: 0.46 10. Anchorage, AK
Physician assistant jobs in AnchorageTotal physician assistant jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $139,249 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $212,000 Location quotient: 0.56
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Best cities for physician assistants
- New York, NY
- Toledo, OH
- Lexington, KY
- Buffalo, NY
- Boston, MA
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Laredo, TX
- Newark, NJ
- Cleveland, OH
- Anchorage, AK
Detailed list of the best cities for a physician assistant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $155,064 | $93,000 | 8,537,673 | 18 |
| 2 | Toledo, OH | $126,494 | $74,000 | 278,508 | 15 |
| 3 | Lexington, KY | $116,897 | $69,000 | 318,449 | 32 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $149,701 | $88,000 | 256,902 | 50 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $172,215 | $103,000 | 673,184 | 189 |
| 6 | Corpus Christi, TX | $105,793 | $62,000 | 325,733 | 13 |
| 7 | Laredo, TX | $105,775 | $62,000 | 257,156 | 12 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $152,342 | $91,000 | 281,764 | 39 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $131,816 | $77,000 | 385,809 | 41 |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $139,249 | $91,000 | 298,192 | 16 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $134,543 | $80,000 | 1,567,872 | 120 |
| 12 | Greensboro, NC | $111,490 | $66,000 | 287,027 | 29 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $118,678 | $69,000 | 672,795 | 56 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $129,993 | $77,000 | 614,664 | 117 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $145,202 | $86,000 | 413,651 | 63 |
| 16 | Tucson, AZ | $105,661 | $63,000 | 530,706 | 44 |
| 17 | Las Vegas, NV | $112,508 | $68,000 | 632,912 | 67 |
| 18 | North Las Vegas, NV | $111,755 | $68,000 | 238,702 | 3 |
| 19 | Oakland, CA | $126,396 | $74,000 | 420,005 | 37 |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $120,818 | $71,000 | 376,380 | 39 |
| 21 | Norfolk, VA | $115,149 | $68,000 | 245,115 | 25 |
| 22 | Winston-Salem, NC | $110,368 | $65,000 | 242,203 | 14 |
| 23 | Albuquerque, NM | $101,724 | $62,000 | 559,277 | 50 |
| 24 | Stockton, CA | $123,732 | $73,000 | 307,072 | 19 |
| 25 | Fresno, CA | $121,792 | $72,000 | 522,053 | 51 |
| 26 | Henderson, NV | $112,808 | $68,000 | 292,969 | 6 |
| 27 | Glendale, AZ | $104,083 | $62,000 | 245,895 | 10 |
| 28 | Chesapeake, VA | $114,795 | $68,000 | 237,940 | 8 |
| 29 | Reno, NV | $112,894 | $68,000 | 245,255 | 14 |
| 30 | Mesa, AZ | $103,985 | $62,000 | 484,587 | 15 |
| 31 | Saint Paul, MN | $145,740 | $86,000 | 302,398 | 18 |
| 32 | Pittsburgh, PA | $125,332 | $74,000 | 303,625 | 34 |
| 33 | El Paso, TX | $100,029 | $59,000 | 683,080 | 20 |
| 34 | Raleigh, NC | $113,763 | $67,000 | 458,880 | 42 |
| 35 | Chula Vista, CA | $119,359 | $71,000 | 267,172 | 6 |
| 36 | San Antonio, TX | $103,644 | $61,000 | 1,492,510 | 72 |
| 37 | Milwaukee, WI | $118,317 | $69,000 | 595,047 | 23 |
| 38 | Durham, NC | $113,516 | $67,000 | 263,016 | 19 |
| 39 | Riverside, CA | $118,632 | $70,000 | 324,722 | 23 |
| 40 | Chandler, AZ | $104,250 | $62,000 | 247,477 | 18 |
| 41 | Virginia Beach, VA | $115,520 | $69,000 | 452,602 | 11 |
| 42 | Sacramento, CA | $122,695 | $73,000 | 495,234 | 55 |
| 43 | Washington, DC | $147,181 | $87,000 | 681,170 | 61 |
| 44 | Cincinnati, OH | $118,216 | $70,000 | 298,800 | 18 |
| 45 | Lubbock, TX | $91,679 | $55,000 | 252,506 | 15 |
| 46 | Gilbert, AZ | $104,179 | $62,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 47 | Long Beach, CA | $119,814 | $71,000 | 470,130 | 16 |
| 48 | Fort Wayne, IN | $108,548 | $63,000 | 264,488 | 5 |
| 49 | Columbus, OH | $124,582 | $73,000 | 860,090 | 21 |
| 50 | Madison, WI | $113,922 | $67,000 | 252,551 | 15 |
Highest paying cities for physician assistants
| Rank | City | Avg. physician assistant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $172,215 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $158,639 |
| 3 | Syracuse, NY | $157,158 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $148,660 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $147,181 |
| 6 | Rochester, MN | $145,859 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $134,544 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $131,816 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $129,993 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $126,880 |
| 11 | Huntington, WV | $121,405 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $118,678 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $113,922 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $113,763 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $112,508 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $112,463 |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $107,419 |
| 18 | Tucson, AZ | $105,661 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $103,644 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $103,186 |
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Updated January 8, 2025