Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in Boulder, CO: $67.82 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in Boulder, CO runs $67.82 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $141,073 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against Boulder's regional price level (BEA RPP 105.2, 5% above national), each hour of work buys what $64.47 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $84,638 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected hourly median of $67.82 in 2026, the physician assistant hourly pay in Boulder, Colorado, slightly exceeds the national average of $67.50. This rate signifies that physician assistants can earn a substantial income, especially if they choose to work part-time or as per-diem professionals in various healthcare settings like ambulatory clinics, emergency departments, and surgical suites. Entry-level positions start at approximately $56.67 per hour, while those at the top of their game can command up to $89.37. Official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that this hourly compensation reflects not just the demand for skilled PAs, but also Boulder’s higher-than-average cost of living index, making it an essential factor for those considering their earning potential in this vibrant city.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $56.67 | $453.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60.69 | $485.52 |
| Median (P50) | $67.82 | $542.55 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $82.44 | $659.51 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $89.37 | $714.97 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Boulder
Based on $67.82/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $67.82/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Boulder, CO can expect to earn approximately $141,064 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $81,383. With a cost-of-living index of 105.20 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Boulder.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Boulder
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,712.77 | $11,755 | $141,064 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,627.66 | $7,053 | $84,638 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,085.11 | $4,702 | $56,426 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (Boulder) | $67.82 |
| Nurse Practitioner (National Avg) | $63.20 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
| Family Medicine Physician (National Avg) | $116.45 |
| Physical Therapist (National Avg) | $48.18 |
Physician Assistants in Boulder, CO earn a median of $141,073 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.49% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 1.50% above the Colorado state average of $138,988.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $67.82/hr = $84,638/year (purchasing power: $80,453).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $141,064/year (purchasing power: $134,089).
CoL index: 105.202 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$54.78/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$65.64/hr
2026 Current Est.
$67.82/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Boulder (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54.78/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $55.85/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $58.61/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $60.91/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $64.07/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $65.33/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $65.64/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67.82/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $70.07/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in Boulder grew 19.8% from $54.78/hr (2019) to $65.64/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $70.07/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem physician assistants can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Boulder 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.
Working as an Hourly Physician Assistant in Boulder
For physician assistants opting for part-time roles, working three days a week translates to notable earnings, making it possible to achieve a viable income while maintaining flexibility. In a typical scenario, a PA working 24 hours weekly would take home significantly less than full-time counterparts but would still garner a respectable income annually, allowing for a balance between work and personal life. In per diem settings, especially for specialized roles such as those in orthopedics or emergency medicine, compensation can be lucrative, with rates ranging from $75-$130, and even hitting $1,200-$1,800 per day in operating rooms depending on the specialty. Additionally, PAs employed in various Boulder healthcare environments may encounter varying compensation structures depending on employer types—hospitals often provide W-2 employment with benefits, whereas 1099 locum opportunities offer higher hourly rates without the backing of health insurance. When negotiating, understanding the landscape of physician assistant hourly rates in CO can empower professionals to seek compensation commensurate with their expertise, along with weighing the benefits of stable employment versus the higher rates available in locum and agency roles.
More salary data for Boulder, CO:
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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for physician assistants in Boulder. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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