PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Physician Assistant
Veterans Health Administration · Kansas City, MO
$98k–$186k/ year
Physician Assistant jobs in Columbia, MO
Physician Assistants in the Columbia area earn a median of $62.88 per hour, about $130,790 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $53.06 and $69.62. That ranks 138th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 50th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Columbia. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Columbia.
- $62.88median pay per hour, Columbia
- $53–$70typical range per hour
- 90physician assistants employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Physician Assistant pay in Columbia, MO
The metro median is 6% below the Missouri statewide median of $66.92 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 90 physician assistants employed in the Columbia metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.80).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $50.85 | $105,770 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $53.06 | $110,360 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Median | $62.88 | $130,790 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $69.62 | $144,810 | 9% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $80.27 | $166,960 | 25% above U.S. median |
How Columbia ranks
- 138th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 50th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th of 6 Missouri 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 Columbia
- Overall prices in Columbia run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 31% below the U.S. average (index 69.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $62.88 median hour buys what $70.31 buys at the national price level, 10% 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 Columbia Physician Assistant pay report
Named employers near Columbia, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Columbia paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,264
- Per year: $113,184
- Per month: $9,432
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Columbia metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Columbia
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Missouri
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Columbia as they open.
PermanentPosted 28 days ago
Advanced Practice Provider - Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant
Shriners Hospitals for Children · St. Louis, MO
$92k–$147k/ year
For youUpdated weekly
50+ more Physician Assistant roles for you in Missouri
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Hospitals in Columbia
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Columbia, 2 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone Hospital Center Columbia, MO | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Columbia Mo Va Medical Center Columbia, MO | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Missouri Health Care Columbia, MO | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Centerpointe Hospital Of Columbia Columbia, MO | Psychiatric | For-profit | 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 Boone County
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Boone County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Fallon, MO | 87 mi | $67.42/hr | 95,355 |
| St. Peters, MO | 93 mi | $67.42/hr | 61,398 |
| St. Charles, MO | 98 mi | $67.42/hr | 72,458 |
| Blue Springs, MO | 104 mi | $61.87/hr | 61,246 |
| Florissant, MO | 108 mi | $67.42/hr | 51,290 |
| Independence, MO | 109 mi | $61.87/hr | 121,629 |
Physician Assistant jobs in Missouri · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Missouri
Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Missouri taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Columbia
Columbia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do physician assistants make in Columbia, MO?
Physician Assistants in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $62.88 per hour, about $130,790 a year. The middle half earn between $53.06 and $69.62 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbia a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?
Columbia ranks 50th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 138th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do physician assistants work in Columbia?
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Columbia, led by Boone Hospital Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Missouri license to work in Columbia as a physician assistant?
Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Columbia in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Boone 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 Columbia?
The federal per diem benchmark in Columbia is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Columbia?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Columbia and across Missouri. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Columbia.
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What do employers near Columbia 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 Missouri, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your PA pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Missouri list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- The Curators of the University of Missouri/University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO · 1 wage offer$55.29/ hr$55–$55
- Saint Francis Medical Partners, LLCCape Girardeau, MO · 1 wage offer$71.92/ hr$72–$72
- 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 Missouri 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
- Physician AssistantPermanent$98k–$186k/ year
- Advanced Practice Provider - Nurse Practitioner or Physician AssistantPermanent$92k–$147k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.