Physician Assistant jobs in Surprise, AZ
Pay for physician assistants in the Surprise area centers on $64.41 per hour, or about $133,970 a year. The lower quarter earns under $61.38 and the upper quarter over $76.50. That ranks 100th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 214th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Surprise. The free report below lists employers near Surprise and what they pay.
- $64.41median pay per hour, Phoenix
- $61–$76typical range per hour
- 2,870physician assistants employed in the metro area
- 103cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Physician Assistant pay in Surprise, AZ
The metro median is 1% below the Arizona statewide median of $65.02 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 2,870 physician assistants employed in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro area, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.22).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $52.40 | $108,990 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $61.38 | $127,670 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Median | $64.41 | $133,970 | 1% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $76.50 | $159,120 | 19% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $84.41 | $175,570 | 32% above U.S. median |
How Surprise ranks
- 100th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 214th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 6 Arizona metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Surprise
- Overall prices in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler run 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% above the U.S. average (index 121.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $64.41 median hour buys what $62.34 buys at the national price level, 3% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Surprise Physician Assistant pay report
Named employers near Surprise, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Surprise paycheck
- Per year: $115,938
- Per month: $9,661
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Surprise
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $160 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,722 |
| 13-week assignment | $22,386 |
Travel physician assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Surprise
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Surprise. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avenir Behavioral Health Center Surprise, AZ | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Destiny Springs Healthcare Surprise, AZ | Psychiatric | Other | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Maricopa County
HRSA lists 49 active primary care shortage designations that include Maricopa County (12 geographic, 11 population-group, 26 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Physician Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, AZ | 12 mi | $64.41/hr | 199,924 |
| Glendale, AZ | 18 mi | $64.41/hr | 258,143 |
Physician Assistant jobs in Arizona · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Arizona
Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arizona requires for your role with the Arizona licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Arizona taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Surprise
Surprise city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do physician assistants make in Surprise, AZ?
Physician Assistants in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro area have a median pay of $64.41 per hour, about $133,970 a year. The middle half earn between $61.38 and $76.50 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Surprise a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler ranks 214th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 100th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% above the U.S. average.
Where do physician assistants work in Surprise?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Surprise, led by Avenir Behavioral Health Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Arizona license to work in Surprise as a physician assistant?
Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arizona requires for your role with the Arizona licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Surprise in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 49 active primary care shortage designations that include Maricopa County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Surprise?
The federal per diem benchmark in Surprise is $160 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,722 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Surprise?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Surprise and across Arizona. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Surprise.
What do employers near Surprise pay physician assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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50+ Physician Assistant roles in Arizona, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your PA pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Arizona list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Canyon Pain and Spine PLLCGoodyear, AZ · 1 wage offer$61.49/ hr$61–$61
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 4 postings$104.30/ hr$94–$115
- Valley Children's HealthcareMadera, CA · 3 postings$103.69/ hr$75–$123
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 4 postings$100.70/ hr$86–$108
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Arizona list
2What they are offering now
426 PA postings with published pay in the US, 356 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open PA roles
Open PA roles near Surprise, AZ, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.