Physician Assistant jobs in Detroit, MI
The median physician assistant pay in the Detroit area is $65.05 per hour ($135,300 a year), with the typical range running from $55.79 to $66.68. That ranks 85th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 164th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in Detroit. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Detroit.
- $65.05median pay per hour, Detroit
- $56–$67typical range per hour
- 2,010physician assistants employed in the metro area
- 100cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Physician Assistant pay in Detroit, MI
The metro median is 3% above the Michigan statewide median of $63.45 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 2,010 physician assistants employed in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.04).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $50.93 | $105,930 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $55.79 | $116,040 | 13% below U.S. median |
| Median | $65.05 | $135,300 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $66.68 | $138,690 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $74.30 | $154,540 | 16% above U.S. median |
How Detroit ranks
- 85th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 164th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 11 Michigan 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 Detroit
- Overall prices in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn run in line with the U.S. average (index 100.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.7).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $65.05 median hour buys what $64.86 buys at the national price level, 1% 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.
Get the Detroit Physician Assistant pay report
Named employers near Detroit, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Detroit paycheck
- Per year: $117,090
- Per month: $9,757
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Detroit
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $152 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,582 |
| 13-week assignment | $20,566 |
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 Detroit
CMS lists 10 hospitals in Detroit, 1 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit (John D. Dingell) Va Medical Center Detroit, MI | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Henry Ford Health Hospital Detroit, MI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Karmanos Cancer Center Detroit, MI | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | No |
| Detroit Receiving Hospital Detroit, MI | Acute care | For-profit | 1 of 5 | Yes |
| Harper University Hospital Detroit, MI | Acute care | For-profit | 1 of 5 | Yes |
| Henry Ford Health St John Hospital Detroit, MI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 of 5 | Yes |
| Sinai-Grace Hospital Detroit, MI | Acute care | For-profit | 1 of 5 | Yes |
| Children's Hospital Of Michigan Detroit, MI | Children's | For-profit | Not rated | Yes |
| Bca Stonecrest Center Detroit, MI | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Samaritan Behavioral Center Detroit, MI | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | 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 Wayne County
HRSA lists 18 active primary care shortage designations that include Wayne County (6 population-group, 12 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dearborn, MI | 7 mi | $65.05/hr | 106,377 |
| Warren, MI | 9 mi | $65.05/hr | 137,686 |
Physician Assistant jobs in Michigan · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Michigan
Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Michigan requires for your role with the Michigan licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Michigan taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Detroit
Detroit city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do physician assistants make in Detroit, MI?
Physician Assistants in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area have a median pay of $65.05 per hour, about $135,300 a year. The middle half earn between $55.79 and $66.68 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Detroit a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn ranks 164th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 85th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run in line with the U.S. average.
Where do physician assistants work in Detroit?
CMS lists 10 hospitals in Detroit, led by Detroit (John D. Dingell) Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Michigan license to work in Detroit as a physician assistant?
Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Michigan requires for your role with the Michigan licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Detroit in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 18 active primary care shortage designations that include Wayne 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 Detroit?
The federal per diem benchmark in Detroit is $152 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,582 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Detroit?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Detroit and across Michigan. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Detroit.
What do employers near Detroit 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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70+ Physician Assistant roles in Michigan, 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 Michigan list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Independent Hospitalist Physicians PLLCJackson, MI · 1 wage offer$61.90/ hr$52–$72
- Henry Ford Health SystemWyandotte, MI · 1 wage offer$61.06/ 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
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Michigan 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 Detroit, MI, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.