WA · Lakewood · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Lakewood, WA

Physician Assistants in the Lakewood area earn a median of $78.59 per hour, about $163,460 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $66.85 and $84.47. That ranks 8th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 39th of 301 once local prices are factored in. 22 open roles with published pay are listed for Lakewood and its metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Lakewood.

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Open Physician Assistant roles near Lakewood

Roles in other cities of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area.

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

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Who is hiring physician assistants near Lakewood

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
UW Medicine10$73.06
One Medical6$77.12
MultiCare6$77.79

Physician Assistant pay in Lakewood, WA

The metro median is 4% above the Washington statewide median of $75.47 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 1,910 physician assistants employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.91).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$60.04$124,8806% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$66.85$139,0504% above U.S. median
Median$78.59$163,46023% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$84.47$175,70032% above U.S. median
Top 10%$101.48$211,08058% above U.S. median

How Lakewood ranks

  • 8th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 39th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 8 Washington 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 Lakewood

  • Overall prices in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue run 11% above the U.S. average (index 111.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $78.59 median hour buys what $70.72 buys at the national price level, 10% 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.

Estimate your Lakewood paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,829
  • Per year: $141,462
  • Per month: $11,788
  • Washington has no state income tax on wages.

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

Travel assignment per diem in Lakewood

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$136
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,554
13-week assignment$20,202

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 Lakewood

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
St Clare Hospital
Lakewood, WA		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 Pierce County

HRSA lists 8 active primary care shortage designations that include Pierce County (3 geographic, 1 population-group, 4 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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
Tacoma, WA7 mi$78.59/hr228,202
Federal Way, WA14 mi$78.59/hr100,252
Lacey, WA15 mi$67.72/hr58,644
Olympia, WA19 mi$67.72/hr56,271

Physician Assistant jobs in Washington · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Washington

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

Washington does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Washington state guide

Other healthcare roles in Lakewood

Lakewood city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Lakewood, WA?

Physician Assistants in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area have a median pay of $78.59 per hour, about $163,460 a year. The middle half earn between $66.85 and $84.47 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ranks 39th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 8th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring physician assistants in Lakewood?

We list 22 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Lakewood.

Do I need a Washington license to work in Lakewood as a physician assistant?

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

Is Lakewood in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 8 active primary care shortage designations that include Pierce 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 Lakewood?

The federal per diem benchmark in Lakewood is $136 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,554 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Lakewood?

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

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

Your PA pay reportLakewood, WA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • One MedicalSeattle, WA · 7 postings$77.12/ hr$70–$88
  • MultiCareTacoma, WA · 16 postings$73.37/ hr$39–$103
  • UW MedicineSeattle, WA · 10 postings$73.06/ hr$58–$97

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$62Median$75.05High$84

34 PA postings with published pay in Washington, 25 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 34 PA roles

  1. Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) - PulmonologyPermanent
    $157k–$161k/ year
    MultiCare · Yakima, WA · posted yesterday
  2. Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) - Sleep MedicinePermanent
    $152k–$157k/ year
    MultiCare · Yakima, WA · posted yesterday

+ 32 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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