MI · Grand Rapids · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Grand Rapids, MI

Physician Assistants in the Grand Rapids area earn a median of $63.20 per hour, about $131,460 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $56.04 and $65.56. That ranks 128th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 128th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Grand Rapids. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Grand Rapids.

More open Physician Assistant roles in Grand Rapids

3 more open roles from employers in Grand Rapids. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Physician Assistant pay in Grand Rapids, MI

The metro median is in line with the Michigan statewide median of $63.45 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 960 physician assistants employed in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood metro area, 1.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.70).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$51.15$106,39020% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$56.04$116,56013% below U.S. median
Median$63.20$131,4601% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$65.56$136,3602% above U.S. median
Top 10%$73.18$152,21014% above U.S. median

How Grand Rapids ranks

  • 128th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 128th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th 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.

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What your pay buys in Grand Rapids

  • Overall prices in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood run 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.5, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 13% below the U.S. average (index 86.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $63.20 median hour buys what $66.15 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Grand Rapids paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,275
  • Per year: $113,760
  • Per month: $9,480

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Grand Rapids

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$119
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,393
13-week assignment$18,109

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 Grand Rapids

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Grand Rapids, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Spectrum Health
Grand Rapids, MI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Mercy Health Saint Mary's
Grand Rapids, MI
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Forest View Psychiatric Hospital
Grand Rapids, MI
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Grand Rapids, MI
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Kent County

HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Kent County (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 18 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
Wyoming, MI6 mi$63.20/hr78,559
Kentwood, MI6 mi$63.20/hr54,768
Kalamazoo, MI48 mi$65.75/hr73,290
Battle Creek, MI51 mi$63.32/hr52,205
Lansing, MI58 mi$62.70/hr114,336
Elkhart, IN89 mi$63.56/hr53,690

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.

Michigan state guide

Other healthcare roles in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Grand Rapids, MI?

Physician Assistants in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood metro area have a median pay of $63.20 per hour, about $131,460 a year. The middle half earn between $56.04 and $65.56 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood ranks 128th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 128th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.

Where do physician assistants work in Grand Rapids?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Grand Rapids, led by Spectrum Health. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Michigan license to work in Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Kent 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 Grand Rapids?

The federal per diem benchmark in Grand Rapids is $119 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,393 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Grand Rapids?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Grand Rapids and across Michigan. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Grand Rapids.

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Pay report · PA near Grand Rapids, MI
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

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 PA roles

Open PA roles near Grand Rapids, MI, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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