PA Salary

Huntsville vs Pelham: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between Huntsville, AL and Pelham, AL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Huntsville, AL
$110,790
$53.26/hr
Pelham, AL
$99,775
$47.97/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricHuntsville, ALPelham, AL
Median Salary$110,790$99,775
Hourly Rate$53.26$47.97
Entry Level (P10)$99,786$79,513
25th Percentile$105,913$91,989
75th Percentile$129,253$116,986
Top Earner (P90)$137,591$130,564
Total Employed1104
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Huntsville ($110,790) and Pelham ($99,775) physician assistant salaries.HuntsvillePelhamMedian Salary$110,790$99,775Entry Level (P10)$99,786$79,513Top Earner (P90)$137,591$130,564US Median $140,391

Verdict

Huntsville, AL offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Pelham.

The salary gap between Huntsville and Pelham is $11,015 (11.04%). Huntsville's median is -21.08% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Huntsville spans $37,805,Pelham spans $51,051. Pelham has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced physician assistants.

Huntsville
P10 (Entry)$99,786
P25$105,913
Median$110,790
P75$129,253
P90 (Top)$137,591
Pelham
P10 (Entry)$79,513
P25$91,989
Median$99,775
P75$116,986
P90 (Top)$130,564

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Huntsville ($119,037 effective) pays 4.87% more than Pelham ($113,510 effective).

Huntsville
Nominal: $110,790
CoL Index: 93.072
Adjusted: $119,037
Pelham
Nominal: $99,775
CoL Index: 87.9
Adjusted: $113,510

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Huntsville if…

  • Higher median salary ($110,790/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($137,591)
  • Larger job market (110 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $119,037)
  • You prefer the Alabama area and lifestyle

Choose Pelham if…

  • You prefer the Alabama area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in Huntsville grew 5.4% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 6.1% growth in Pelham over the same period.

Huntsville, AL

+5.4%

$101,720 (2019) → $107,230 (2025)

Pelham, AL

+6.1%

$91,042 (2024) → $96,569 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: Huntsville or Pelham?

Huntsville has a higher median physician assistant salary at $110,790/year, compared to Pelham at $99,775/year — a difference of $11,015 (11.04%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Huntsville and Pelham?

Huntsville physician assistants earn $53.26/hr while Pelham hygienists earn $47.97/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Huntsville to Pelham as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Huntsville and Pelham. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Huntsville = $119,037, Pelham = $113,510), job availability (110 vs 4 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in Huntsville vs Pelham?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $99,786 in Huntsville and $79,513 in Pelham. The Huntsville area offers higher starting salaries.
JT

Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C

Career Analyst

Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Chen, PA-CData verified by Amina Patel, MSPAS, PA-C

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.32% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov