Entry-Level Physician Assistant Salary in Austin, TX: $115,543 (2026)
Quick Answer:New physician assistants entering the Austin, TX job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $115,543 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 29-1071, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Austin's local price level (BEA RPP 98.1 — 2% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $117,822 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($139,017) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
New graduates entering the physician assistant profession in Austin, Texas, can anticipate an entry-level salary around $115,543 in 2026, which places them at a notably lower starting point compared to the city's median annual salary of $139,017. This gap signals a common journey for many new physician assistants, who can expect to grow into more competitive earnings over their first three to five years, as they move closer to the $134,450 mark at the 25th percentile. Austin remains a favorable market for new graduates, as the demand for healthcare professionals continues to rise, bolstered by the area's expanding population and evolving healthcare needs. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.32%, new grads are likely to find ample opportunities for professional development and salary increases within their early career stages.
Career Earnings Timeline in Austin
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Austin
Entry-level physician assistants in Austin, TX typically start between $115,543 and $134,450 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $60,566 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $139,017 — 0.98% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average physician assistant program cost in Texas of $70,000 represents just 60.58% of the starting physician assistant pay ($115,543/year) in Austin. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates based on ARC-PA accredited master's-level PA programs. Most PA programs run 27-30 months and include didactic and clinical rotation phases. Public in-state programs are the most affordable option; private programs in high-cost metros can approach $150k. Totals reflect tuition and program fees only; PANCE certification exam fees are separate.
PA Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Austin
- 1Research the Austin market: entry-level physician assistant pay ranges from $115,543 to $134,450, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the physician assistant field — employers in TX often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Austin, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Austin for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Austin's moderate cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Physician Assistant Compensation Range
The physician assistant wage spread in Austin is $60,566 ( 52.42%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $115,543, experienced hygienists can earn up to $176,109.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$72,590
2025 BLS Actual
$111,830
2026 Current Est.
$115,543
2019–2027 Growth
+64.5%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Austin (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $72,590 | Actual |
| 2020 | $58,940 | Actual |
| 2021 | $78,230 | Actual |
| 2022 | $77,630 | Actual |
| 2023 | $103,480 | Actual |
| 2024 | $107,490 | Actual |
| 2025 | $111,830 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $115,543 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $119,379 | Projected |
Entry-level physician assistant compensation (10th percentile) in Austin, TX grew 54.1% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $72,590 in 2019 to $111,830 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $119,379. New graduates entering the Austin job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Austin metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.32% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your physician assistant Career in Austin
In terms of potential employers, Austin’s healthcare landscape is welcoming to entry-level physician assistants, with primary care and urgent care clinics frequently hiring new graduates, particularly those who have undergone structured onboarding programs. Surgical specialties often enlist PAs through residency and fellowship pipelines, while hospital medicine groups may offer convenient night-only positions. To enhance earning potential, it’s vital for new PAs in Texas to hold a Master's degree from an ARC-PA accredited program, obtain NCCPA national certification (PA-C), and secure a state PA license along with DEA registration. Engaging in continued education, including acquiring Certificates of Added Qualifications in subspecialties, can also elevate starting pay. For new physician assistants, establishing a career strategy in the first few years can lead to significant salary advancement, as the field increasingly adopts the Optimal Team Practice model and practices governed by state laws. As surgical positions—especially in orthopedics and cardiovascular surgery—command the highest compensation levels, focusing on these areas may present lucrative opportunities for effective career growth.
More salary data for Austin, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new physician assistant graduates. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Austin. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071).
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