NC · Winston-Salem · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Winston-Salem, NC

Pay for physician assistants in the Winston-Salem area centers on $63.26 per hour, or about $131,570 a year. The lower quarter earns under $55.82 and the upper quarter over $68.76. That ranks 126th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 73rd of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Winston-Salem. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Winston-Salem.

Physician Assistant pay in Winston-Salem, NC

The metro median is 2% above the North Carolina statewide median of $61.80 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 800 physician assistants employed in the Winston-Salem metro area, 2.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.89).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$50.34$104,71021% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$55.82$116,11013% below U.S. median
Median$63.26$131,5701% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$68.76$143,0207% above U.S. median
Top 10%$83.22$173,10030% above U.S. median

How Winston-Salem ranks

  • 126th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 73rd of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th 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 Winston-Salem

  • Overall prices in Winston-Salem run 8% below the U.S. average (index 92.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 29% below the U.S. average (index 71.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $63.26 median hour buys what $68.73 buys at the national price level, 7% 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.

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

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Estimate your Winston-Salem paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,277
  • Per year: $113,868
  • Per month: $9,489

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

Travel assignment per diem in Winston-Salem

ItemFederal 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 North Carolina

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Novant Health Medical Park Hospital
Winston-Salem, NC
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5No
North Carolina Baptist Hospital
Winston-Salem, NC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center
Winston-Salem, NC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Old Vineyard Youth Services
Winston Salem, NC
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Forsyth County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Forsyth County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 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
High Point, NC17 mi$61.61/hr118,601
Greensboro, NC24 mi$61.61/hr307,381
Burlington, NC44 mi$52.52/hr61,365
Mooresville, NC48 mi$63.52/hr52,884
Kannapolis, NC48 mi$63.52/hr60,521
Concord, NC53 mi$63.52/hr112,395

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 Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Winston-Salem, NC?

Physician Assistants in the Winston-Salem metro area have a median pay of $63.26 per hour, about $131,570 a year. The middle half earn between $55.82 and $68.76 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Winston-Salem a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?

Winston-Salem ranks 73rd of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 126th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do physician assistants work in Winston-Salem?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Winston-Salem, led by Novant Health Medical Park Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Forsyth 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 Winston-Salem?

The federal per diem benchmark in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem?

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

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What do employers near Winston-Salem pay physician assistants? Get the report.

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Pay report · PA near Winston-Salem, 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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