KY · Louisville · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Louisville, KY

The median physician assistant pay in the Louisville area is $60.65 per hour ($126,150 a year), with the typical range running from $51.28 to $63.78. That ranks 209th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 156th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 8 hospitals in Louisville. The free report below lists employers near Louisville and what they pay.

More open Physician Assistant roles in Louisville

1 more open role from employers in Louisville. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Physician Assistant pay in Louisville, KY

The metro median is 14% above the Kentucky statewide median of $53.03 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 450 physician assistants employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.66).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$32.37$67,33049% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$51.28$106,66020% below U.S. median
Median$60.65$126,1505% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$63.78$132,660in line with U.S. median
Top 10%$78.57$163,43023% above U.S. median

How Louisville ranks

  • 209th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 156th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 4 Kentucky 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.

Get the Louisville Physician Assistant pay report

Named employers near Louisville, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

Get my free pay report

What your pay buys in Louisville

  • Overall prices in Louisville/Jefferson County run 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 78.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $60.65 median hour buys what $65.16 buys at the national price level, 2% above 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.

Estimate your Louisville paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,183
  • Per year: $109,170
  • Per month: $9,098

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Louisville

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$142
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,554
13-week assignment$20,202

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).

Open Physician Assistant roles in Kentucky

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Louisville as they open.

PermanentPosted today

Physician Assistant

Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Campbell, KY

$117k–$148k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888497700
New this week
View role

All Physician Assistant jobs in Kentucky

Hospitals in Louisville

CMS lists 8 hospitals in Louisville, 2 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Louisville Va Medical Center
Louisville, KY
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Baptist Health Louisville
Louisville, KY
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Norton Hospitals, Inc
Louisville, KY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Uofl Health - Jewish Hospital And Mary & Elizabeth Hospital
Louisville, KY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
University Of Louisville Hospital
Louisville, KY
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Central State Hospital
Louisville, KY
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo
The Brook Hospital - Dupont
Louisville, KY
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo
The Brook Hospital - Kmi
Louisville, KY
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Jefferson County

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Jefferson County (3 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Jeffersonville, IN12 mi$60.65/hr52,912
Lexington, KY65 mi$52.11/hr329,437
Columbus, IN74 mi$60.48/hr51,970
Bloomington, IN84 mi$57.71/hr79,986
Owensboro, KY85 mi$66.45/hr60,675
Cincinnati, OH91 mi$60.22/hr314,915

Physician Assistant jobs in Kentucky · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Kentucky

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Kentucky requires for your role with the Kentucky licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Kentucky taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Kentucky state guide

Other healthcare roles in Louisville

Louisville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Louisville, KY?

Physician Assistants in the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area have a median pay of $60.65 per hour, about $126,150 a year. The middle half earn between $51.28 and $63.78 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Louisville a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?

Louisville/Jefferson County ranks 156th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 209th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do physician assistants work in Louisville?

CMS lists 8 hospitals in Louisville, led by Louisville Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Kentucky license to work in Louisville as a physician assistant?

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Kentucky requires for your role with the Kentucky licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Louisville in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Jefferson 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 Louisville?

The federal per diem benchmark in Louisville is $142 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,554 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Louisville?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Louisville and across Kentucky. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Louisville.

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Louisville 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.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

Get your free pay report

55+ Physician Assistant roles in Kentucky, sent free by email

Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
That email doesn't look quite right.
Please choose your role.
Please enter your city or ZIP.

Free for candidates. No phone number, no cold calls. One-click unsubscribe.

The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · PA near Louisville, KY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PA pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Kentucky list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • 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
  • Sharp HealthCareLa Mesa, CA · 3 postings$92.12/ hr$80–$104

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Kentucky list

2What they are offering now

Low$49Median$70.67High$89

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 now: 2 PA roles

  1. Physician AssistantPermanent
    $117k–$148k/ year
    Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Campbell, KY · posted today
  2. Nurse Practitioner- Physician AssistantPermanent
    $105k–$120k/ year
    BrightSpring Health Services · Bowling Green, KY · posted 30+ days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
Check my pay