NC · Cary · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Cary, NC

Pay for physician assistants in the Cary area centers on $60.44 per hour, or about $125,710 a year. The lower quarter earns under $52.94 and the upper quarter over $68.47. That ranks 217th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 234th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Cary. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Cary.

More open Physician Assistant roles in Cary

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

Physician Assistant pay in Cary, NC

The metro median is 2% below the North Carolina statewide median of $61.80 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 1,300 physician assistants employed in the Raleigh-Cary metro area, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.79).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$42.79$89,00033% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$52.94$110,12017% below U.S. median
Median$60.44$125,7106% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$68.47$142,4207% above U.S. median
Top 10%$76.26$158,62019% above U.S. median

How Cary ranks

  • 217th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 234th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 8th of 13 North Carolina 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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Named employers near Cary, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Cary

  • Overall prices in Raleigh-Cary run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $60.44 median hour buys what $61.57 buys at the national price level, 4% below 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 Cary paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,176
  • Per year: $108,792
  • Per month: $9,066

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Raleigh-Cary metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Cary

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$131
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,435
13-week assignment$18,655

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 North Carolina

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

PermanentPosted 8 days ago

Physician Assistant

Defense Health Agency · Fort Bragg, NC

$112k–$145k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 887568100
View role
PermanentPosted 28 days ago

Physician Assistant

Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Camp Lejeune, NC

$90k–$116k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 884928200
View role

All Physician Assistant jobs in North Carolina

Hospitals in Cary

CMS lists 1 hospital in Cary, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Wakemed, Cary Hospital
Cary, NC
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Wake County

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Wake County (2 population-group, 4 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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
Apex, NC5 mi$60.44/hr75,977
Raleigh, NC11 mi$60.44/hr499,825
Durham, NC14 mi$60.20/hr301,870
Chapel Hill, NC16 mi$60.20/hr64,028
Burlington, NC41 mi$52.52/hr61,365
Fayetteville, NC49 mi$63.68/hr209,496

Physician Assistant jobs in North Carolina · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in North Carolina

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

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

North Carolina state guide

Other healthcare roles in Cary

Cary city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Cary, NC?

Physician Assistants in the Raleigh-Cary metro area have a median pay of $60.44 per hour, about $125,710 a year. The middle half earn between $52.94 and $68.47 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Raleigh-Cary ranks 234th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 217th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Where do physician assistants work in Cary?

CMS lists 1 hospital in Cary, led by Wakemed, Cary Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Cary as a physician assistant?

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

Is Cary in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Wake 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 Cary?

The federal per diem benchmark in Cary is $131 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,435 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Cary?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Cary and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Cary.

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What do employers near Cary pay physician assistants? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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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 Cary, NC
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PA pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your North Carolina list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Duke University Health SystemMorrisville, NC · 1 wage offer$63.75/ hr$64–$64
  • BrightSpring Health ServicesKINSTON, NC · 2 postings$46.39/ hr$32–$58
  • 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 North Carolina list

2What they are offering now

Low$37Median$52.88High$82

5 PA postings with published pay in North Carolina, 5 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 5 PA roles

  1. Physician Assistant (Podiatry)Permanent
    $115k–$196k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Salisbury, NC · posted today
  2. Physician AssistantPermanent
    $112k–$145k/ year
    Defense Health Agency · Fort Bragg, NC · posted 8 days ago

+ 3 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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