PA · Pittsburgh · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Pittsburgh, PA

The median physician assistant pay in the Pittsburgh area is $53.44 per hour ($111,150 a year), with the typical range running from $49.72 to $63.15. That ranks 302nd of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 281st of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 11 hospitals in Pittsburgh. The free report below lists employers near Pittsburgh and what they pay.

More open Physician Assistant roles in Pittsburgh

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

PermanentPosted today

Physician Assistant

Premise Health · Pittsburgh, PA

Pay range with your report
  • Part Time 20 - 29
  • Req 102042567888
New this week
View role

Physician Assistant pay in Pittsburgh, PA

The metro median is 11% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $60.04 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 2,000 physician assistants employed in the Pittsburgh metro area, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.79).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$48.32$100,51025% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$49.72$103,42022% below U.S. median
Median$53.44$111,15017% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$63.15$131,3501% below U.S. median
Top 10%$65.30$135,8202% above U.S. median

How Pittsburgh ranks

  • 302nd of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 281st of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 15th 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.

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

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What your pay buys in Pittsburgh

  • Overall prices in Pittsburgh run 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 28% below the U.S. average (index 72.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $53.44 median hour buys what $56.45 buys at the national price level, 12% 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 Pittsburgh paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,924
  • Per year: $96,192
  • Per month: $8,016

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

Travel assignment per diem in Pittsburgh

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$138
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,526
13-week assignment$19,838

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 Pennsylvania

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

PermanentPosted 3 days ago

Physician Assistant

Genesis Healthcare · Shillington, PA

$116k–$121k/ year
  • Full-Time AlignMed USD $120,640.00/Yr.
  • Req 42822
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 30 days ago

Physician Assistant

Genesis Healthcare · Gettysburg, PA

$115k–$130k/ year
  • Full-Time AlignMed USD $130,000.00/Yr.
  • Req 51072
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Physician Assistant

Genesis Healthcare · Pennsburg, PA

$58.00–$60.00/ hour
  • Part-Time AlignMed USD $60.00/Hr.
  • Req 54601
View role

All Physician Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania

Hospitals in Pittsburgh

CMS lists 11 hospitals in Pittsburgh, 6 of the 9 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Magee Womens Hospital Of Upmc Health System
Pittsburgh, PA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
St Clair Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Upmc Mercy
Pittsburgh, PA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Upmc Passavant
Pittsburgh, PA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Upmc Presbyterian Shadyside
Pittsburgh, PA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Va Pittsburgh Healthcare System - Univ Dr
Pittsburgh, PA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Allegheny General Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Upmc St Margaret
Pittsburgh, PA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
West Penn Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Children's Home Of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Allegheny County

HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Allegheny County (2 population-group, 5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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
Youngstown, OH57 mi$56.29/hr59,123
Canton, OH77 mi$58.02/hr69,211
Akron, OH92 mi$61.41/hr189,664
Cuyahoga Falls, OH97 mi$61.41/hr50,979
Parma, OH112 mi$63.13/hr79,350
Cleveland, OH114 mi$63.13/hr365,379

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 Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Pittsburgh, PA?

Physician Assistants in the Pittsburgh metro area have a median pay of $53.44 per hour, about $111,150 a year. The middle half earn between $49.72 and $63.15 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Pittsburgh ranks 281st of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 302nd of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 5% below the U.S. average.

Where do physician assistants work in Pittsburgh?

CMS lists 11 hospitals in Pittsburgh, led by Magee Womens Hospital Of Upmc Health System. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Allegheny 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 Pittsburgh?

The federal per diem benchmark in Pittsburgh is $138 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,526 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Pittsburgh?

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

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What do employers near Pittsburgh 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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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 Pittsburgh, PA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • University of Pittsburgh PhysiciansPittsburgh, PA · 1 wage offer$60.19/ hr$60–$60
  • The Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA · 1 wage offer$68.37/ hr$58–$78
  • 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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