NC · Durham · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Durham, NC

The median physician assistant pay in the Durham area is $60.20 per hour ($125,210 a year), with the typical range running from $52.08 to $66.32. That ranks 222nd of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 229th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Durham. The free report below lists employers near Durham and what they pay.

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More open Physician Assistant roles in Durham

20 more open roles from employers in Durham. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

All Physician Assistant jobs in North Carolina

Physician Assistant pay in Durham, NC

The metro median is 3% below the North Carolina statewide median of $61.80 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 810 physician assistants employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.35).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$49.79$103,56022% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$52.08$108,33019% below U.S. median
Median$60.20$125,2106% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$66.32$137,9504% above U.S. median
Top 10%$77.31$160,80021% above U.S. median

How Durham ranks

  • 222nd of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 229th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 9th 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 Durham, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Durham

  • Overall prices in Durham-Chapel Hill run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $60.20 median hour buys what $61.70 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 Durham paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,167
  • Per year: $108,360
  • Per month: $9,030

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

Travel assignment per diem in Durham

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$121
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,365
13-week assignment$17,745

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 Durham 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 Durham

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Duke Regional Hospital
Durham, NC		Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Duke University Hospital
Durham, NC		Acute careFor-profit5 of 5Yes
Durham Va Medical Center
Durham, NC		Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
North Carolina Specialty Hospital
Durham, NC		Acute careFor-profitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Durham County

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Durham County (3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 16 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
Chapel Hill, NC9 mi$60.20/hr64,028
Cary, NC14 mi$60.44/hr182,659
Apex, NC17 mi$60.44/hr75,977
Raleigh, NC18 mi$60.44/hr499,825
Wake Forest, NC22 mi$60.44/hr56,764
Burlington, NC33 mi$52.52/hr61,365

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 Durham

Durham city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Durham, NC?

Physician Assistants in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area have a median pay of $60.20 per hour, about $125,210 a year. The middle half earn between $52.08 and $66.32 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Durham-Chapel Hill ranks 229th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 222nd of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Where do physician assistants work in Durham?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Durham, led by Duke Regional Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

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

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Durham 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 Durham?

The federal per diem benchmark in Durham is $121 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,365 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Durham?

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

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

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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Pay report · PA near Durham, 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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