NC · Charlotte · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Charlotte, NC

The median physician assistant pay in the Charlotte area is $63.52 per hour ($132,110 a year), with the typical range running from $56.05 to $66.38. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Charlotte and its metro area. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Charlotte. The free report below lists employers near Charlotte and what they pay.

Open Physician Assistant roles near Charlotte

Roles in other cities of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area.

More open Physician Assistant roles in Charlotte

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

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Named employers near Charlotte, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Physician Assistant pay in Charlotte, NC

The metro median is 3% above the North Carolina statewide median of $61.80 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 2,500 physician assistants employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area, 1.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.85).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$48.74$101,38024% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$56.05$116,58013% below U.S. median
Median$63.52$132,1101% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$66.38$138,0704% above U.S. median
Top 10%$78.57$163,43023% above U.S. median

How Charlotte ranks

  • 119th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 152nd of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd 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.

What your pay buys in Charlotte

  • Overall prices in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $63.52 median hour buys what $65.25 buys at the national price level, 2% 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 Charlotte paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,287
  • Per year: $114,336
  • Per month: $9,528

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

Travel assignment per diem in Charlotte

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$131
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,477
13-week assignment$19,201

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 Charlotte

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Charlotte, 3 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center
Charlotte, NC
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
Charlotte, NC
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Carolinas Medical Center/Behav Health
Charlotte, NC
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Atrium Health Pineville
Charlotte, NC
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Atrium Health University City
Charlotte, NC
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center
Charlotte, NC
Acute careNonprofitNot ratedYes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Mecklenburg County

HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Mecklenburg County (4 population-group, 3 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Huntersville, NC14 mi$63.52/hr67,087
Concord, NC17 mi$63.52/hr112,395
Winston-Salem, NC70 mi$63.26/hr255,769
High Point, NC72 mi$61.61/hr118,601
Columbia, SC81 mi$57.51/hr144,788
Greensboro, NC83 mi$61.61/hr307,381

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 Charlotte

Charlotte city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Charlotte, NC?

Physician Assistants in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area have a median pay of $63.52 per hour, about $132,110 a year. The middle half earn between $56.05 and $66.38 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia ranks 152nd of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 119th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring physician assistants in Charlotte?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Charlotte.

Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Charlotte 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 Charlotte in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Mecklenburg 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 Charlotte?

The federal per diem benchmark in Charlotte is $131 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,477 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Charlotte?

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

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Pay report · PA near Charlotte, 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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