PA · Harrisburg · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Harrisburg, PA

Physician Assistants in the Harrisburg area earn a median of $59.66 per hour, about $124,080 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $47.28 and $64.47. That ranks 237th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 250th of 301 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Harrisburg. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Harrisburg.

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Physician Assistant pay in Harrisburg, PA

The metro median is 1% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $60.04 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 450 physician assistants employed in the Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.35).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$33.47$69,62048% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$47.28$98,34026% below U.S. median
Median$59.66$124,0807% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$64.47$134,1001% above U.S. median
Top 10%$73.61$153,11015% above U.S. median

How Harrisburg ranks

  • 237th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 250th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 8th of 15 Pennsylvania 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 Harrisburg

  • Overall prices in Harrisburg-Carlisle run 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $59.66 median hour buys what $60.48 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Harrisburg paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,148
  • Per year: $107,388
  • Per month: $8,949

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

Travel assignment per diem in Harrisburg

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$124
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,386
13-week assignment$18,018

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 Harrisburg

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Harrisburg, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Upmc Pinnacle Hospitals
Harrisburg, PA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute
Harrisburg, PA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedYes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Dauphin County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Dauphin County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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
Lancaster, PA35 mi$60.45/hr58,441
Reading, PA51 mi$60.71/hr96,000
Frederick, MD65 mi$66.18/hr89,537
Baltimore, MD69 mi$64.47/hr568,271
Allentown, PA77 mi$61.60/hr127,138
Gaithersburg, MD80 mi$66.18/hr70,686

Physician Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Pennsylvania

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

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

Pennsylvania state guide

Other healthcare roles in Harrisburg

Harrisburg city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Harrisburg, PA?

Physician Assistants in the Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area have a median pay of $59.66 per hour, about $124,080 a year. The middle half earn between $47.28 and $64.47 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Harrisburg-Carlisle ranks 250th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 237th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring physician assistants in Harrisburg?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Harrisburg. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Harrisburg.

Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Harrisburg as a physician assistant?

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

Is Harrisburg in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Dauphin 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 Harrisburg?

The federal per diem benchmark in Harrisburg is $124 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,386 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Harrisburg?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Harrisburg.

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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 Harrisburg, PA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PA pay reportHarrisburg, PA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • The Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA · 1 wage offer$68.37/ hr$58–$78
  • University of Pittsburgh PhysiciansPittsburgh, PA · 1 wage offer$60.19/ hr$60–$60
  • Genesis HealthcareShillington, PA · 5 postings$59.00/ hr$55–$62
  • Susquehanna Physician ServicesWilliamsport, PA · 1 wage offer$55.29/ hr$55–$55

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$53Median$58.95High$63

6 PA postings with published pay in Pennsylvania, 4 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 6 PA roles

  1. Physician AssistantPermanent
    $116k–$121k/ year
    Genesis Healthcare · Shillington, PA · posted 3 days ago
  2. Wound Care Physician AssistantPermanent
    $122k–$126k/ year
    Genesis Healthcare · Harrisburg, PA · posted 16 days ago

+ 4 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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