PA · Reading · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Reading, PA

Pay for physician assistants in the Reading area centers on $60.71 per hour, or about $126,280 a year. The lower quarter earns under $53.23 and the upper quarter over $71.07. That ranks 206th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 206th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Reading. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Reading.

Physician Assistant pay in Reading, PA

The metro median is 1% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $60.04 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 160 physician assistants employed in the Reading metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.94).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$50.27$104,56022% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$53.23$110,72017% below U.S. median
Median$60.71$126,2805% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$71.07$147,83011% above U.S. median
Top 10%$73.72$153,34015% above U.S. median

How Reading ranks

  • 206th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 206th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th 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 Reading

  • Overall prices in Reading run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 15% below the U.S. average (index 85.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $60.71 median hour buys what $62.55 buys at the national price level, 2% 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.

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

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Estimate your Reading paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,186
  • Per year: $109,278
  • Per month: $9,106

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

Travel assignment per diem in Reading

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$117
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,337
13-week assignment$17,381

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 Reading as they open.

PermanentPosted 3 days ago

Physician Assistant

Genesis Healthcare · Shillington, PA

$116k–$121k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req 42822
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 30 days ago

Physician Assistant

Genesis Healthcare · Gettysburg, PA

$115k–$130k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req 51072
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Physician Assistant

Genesis Healthcare · Pennsburg, PA

$58.00–$60.00/ hour
  • Part time
  • Req 54601
View role

All Physician Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania

Physician Assistant salary in Pennsylvania

Hospitals in Reading

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Reading, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Penn State Health St. Joseph
Reading, PA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Haven Behavioral Hospital Of Eastern Pennsylvania
Reading, PA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Tower Behavioral Health
Reading, PA
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 Berks County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Berks 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
Lancaster, PA29 mi$60.45/hr58,441
Allentown, PA29 mi$61.60/hr127,138
Bethlehem, PA35 mi$61.60/hr79,453
Wilmington, DE47 mi$62.62/hr73,176
Philadelphia, PA48 mi$62.62/hr1,573,916
Harrisburg, PA51 mi$59.66/hr50,649

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 Reading

Reading city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Reading, PA?

Physician Assistants in the Reading metro area have a median pay of $60.71 per hour, about $126,280 a year. The middle half earn between $53.23 and $71.07 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Reading ranks 206th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 206th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Where do physician assistants work in Reading?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Reading, led by Penn State Health St. Joseph. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

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

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Berks 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 Reading?

The federal per diem benchmark in Reading is $117 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,337 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Reading?

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

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Pay report · PA near Reading, PA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PA pay reportReading, 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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