ND · Bismarck · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Bismarck, ND

The median physician assistant pay in the Bismarck area is $60.09 per hour ($124,990 a year), with the typical range running from $49.50 to $63.17. That ranks 225th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 130th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Bismarck. The free report below lists employers near Bismarck and what they pay.

Physician Assistant pay in Bismarck, ND

The metro median is 1% below the North Dakota statewide median of $60.66 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 90 physician assistants employed in the Bismarck metro area, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.27).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$24.65$51,27062% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$49.50$102,96023% below U.S. median
Median$60.09$124,9906% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$63.17$131,3901% below U.S. median
Top 10%$63.17$131,3901% below U.S. median

How Bismarck ranks

  • 225th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 130th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 4 North Dakota 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 Bismarck

  • Overall prices in Bismarck run 9% below the U.S. average (index 91.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 16% below the U.S. average (index 84.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $60.09 median hour buys what $66.02 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Bismarck, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Bismarck paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,163
  • Per year: $108,162
  • Per month: $9,014

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

Travel assignment per diem in Bismarck

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 Dakota

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

All Physician Assistant jobs in North Dakota

Hospitals in Bismarck

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Bismarck, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Chi St Alexius Health
Bismarck, ND
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Sanford Medical Center Bismarck
Bismarck, ND
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Burleigh County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Burleigh County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 6 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
Fargo, ND186 mi$62.06/hr136,285
Grand Forks, ND188 mi$61.13/hr59,845
Rapid City, SD224 mi$58.73/hr79,894
St. Cloud, MN328 mi$63.10/hr72,145
Maple Grove, MN370 mi$67.60/hr72,739
Plymouth, MN372 mi$67.60/hr78,551

Physician Assistant jobs in North Dakota · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in North Dakota

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

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

North Dakota state guide

Other healthcare roles in Bismarck

Bismarck city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Bismarck, ND?

Physician Assistants in the Bismarck metro area have a median pay of $60.09 per hour, about $124,990 a year. The middle half earn between $49.50 and $63.17 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Bismarck ranks 130th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 225th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.

Where do physician assistants work in Bismarck?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Bismarck, led by Chi St Alexius Health. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a North Dakota license to work in Bismarck as a physician assistant?

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

Is Bismarck in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Burleigh 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 Bismarck?

The federal per diem benchmark in Bismarck 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 Bismarck?

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

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What do employers near Bismarck 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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Pay report · PA near Bismarck, ND
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • 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
  • MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 4 postings$100.70/ hr$86–$108
  • Sharp HealthCareLa Mesa, CA · 3 postings$92.12/ hr$80–$104

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your North Dakota 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: 1 PA roles

  1. Primary Care Physician Assistant - EDRP AuthorizedPermanent
    $101k–$162k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Minot, ND · posted 8 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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