PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Physician Assistant
Veterans Health Administration · Kansas City, MO
$98k–$186k/ year
Physician Assistant jobs in Independence, MO
Pay for physician assistants in the Independence area centers on $61.87 per hour, or about $128,690 a year. The lower quarter earns under $52.36 and the upper quarter over $72.50. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Independence. That ranks 174th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 108th of 301 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Independence.
- $61.87median pay per hour, Kansas City
- $52–$72typical range per hour
- 580physician assistants employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Physician Assistant roles near Independence
Roles in other cities of the Kansas City area.
For youUpdated weekly
15+ more Physician Assistant roles for you in Independence, MO
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
Get the Independence Physician Assistant pay report
Named employers near Independence, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportPhysician Assistant pay in Independence, MO
The metro median is 8% below the Missouri statewide median of $66.92 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 580 physician assistants employed in the Kansas City metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.53).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $49.97 | $103,940 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $52.36 | $108,910 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Median | $61.87 | $128,690 | 3% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $72.50 | $150,800 | 13% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $79.51 | $165,380 | 24% above U.S. median |
How Independence ranks
- 174th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 108th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th 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 Independence
- Overall prices in Kansas City run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 13% below the U.S. average (index 86.6).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $61.87 median hour buys what $66.86 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 Independence paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,227
- Per year: $111,366
- Per month: $9,280
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Kansas City metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Independence
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $135 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,505 |
| 13-week assignment | $19,565 |
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 Independence
CMS lists 1 hospital in Independence, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerpoint Medical Center Independence, MO | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Jackson County
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Jackson County (5 population-group, 4 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Springs, MO | 7 mi | $61.87/hr | 61,246 |
| Kansas City, MO | 11 mi | $61.87/hr | 516,032 |
| Lawrence, KS | 50 mi | $57.79/hr | 97,271 |
| St. Joseph, MO | 53 mi | $66.92/hr | 71,098 |
| Topeka, KS | 72 mi | $63.48/hr | 125,467 |
| Columbia, MO | 109 mi | $62.88/hr | 130,900 |
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 Independence
Independence city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do physician assistants make in Independence, MO?
Physician Assistants in the Kansas City metro area have a median pay of $61.87 per hour, about $128,690 a year. The middle half earn between $52.36 and $72.50 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Independence a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?
Kansas City ranks 108th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 174th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring physician assistants in Independence?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Kansas City area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Independence.
Do I need a Missouri license to work in Independence 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 Independence in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Jackson 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 Independence?
The federal per diem benchmark in Independence is $135 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,505 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Independence?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Independence and across Missouri. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Independence.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Independence 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.
Get your free pay report
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
- Saint Francis Medical Partners, LLCCape Girardeau, MO · 1 wage offer$71.92/ hr$72–$72
- The Curators of the University of Missouri/University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO · 1 wage offer$55.29/ hr$55–$55
- 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.