Physician Assistant Salary in Decatur, AL: $108,090 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Decatur, AL earns a median $108,090/year (≈ $51.97/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Decatur's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.9), that paycheck buys what $122,969 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% above the Alabama state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Physician assistants in Decatur, Alabama, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $108,090 in 2026. This figure is significantly lower—approximately 23%—than the national median of $140,391 for the same year. The salary range for PAs here spans from $77,084 at the 10th percentile to $149,695 at the 90th percentile, illustrating a wide variance in earnings largely influenced by the first-assist billing model, especially prevalent in surgical specialties. Such financial dynamics reflect localized estimates derived from BLS state-level data, adjusted for regional price parities, making Decatur’s job market for physician assistants distinct compared to larger urban centers.
About the Decatur Market
Salary estimated from Alabama average ($112,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $77,084 | $37.06 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $93,786 | $45.09 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $108,090 | $51.97 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $130,169 | $62.58 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $149,695 | $71.97 |
Median Salary Position
23.01% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Decatur
In Decatur, AL, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $72,611 (2026 est.). At $108,090, the local median is 23.01% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Decatur: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Decatur Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Decatur median: $108,090/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Decatur Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Average | $107,875 | +0.20% more |
| National Average | $140,391 | -23.01% less |
Physician Assistants in Decatur, AL earn a median of $108,090 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.01% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 0.20% above the Alabama state average of $107,875.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Decatur has a cost of living 12.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Decatur, AL has a cost-of-living index of 87.9 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $108,090 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $122,969 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.77% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$86,431
2025 BLS Actual
$104,617
2026 Current Est.
$108,090
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Decatur (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $86,431 | Actual |
| 2020 | $88,841 | Actual |
| 2021 | $93,569 | Actual |
| 2022 | $97,018 | Actual |
| 2023 | $100,105 | Actual |
| 2024 | $98,629 | Actual |
| 2025 | $104,617 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $108,090 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $111,679 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Decatur metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 21.0% from $86,431 (2019) to $104,617 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $111,679 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,248 (29.21%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Decatur 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $77,084 – $93,786 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $93,786 – $108,090 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $108,090 – $130,169 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $130,169 – $149,695 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Decatur
Currently, there are nine physician assistants employed in Decatur, contributing to the local healthcare ecosystem. The cost of living in the area, with a index of 87.9, indicates that expenses are lower than the national average, allowing for a better quality of life despite the lower salary scale. Among local employers, surgical specialty practices, particularly in orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, tend to offer the most competitive pay. The pay disparity across different specialties—surgical versus emergency or primary care—is influenced by factors such as first-assist case volume, call coverage, and hospital employment structures versus private practice setups. To maximize compensation in Decatur, PAs should consider focusing on high-demand specialties and possibly pursuing additional certifications or roles that increase case volume and RVU productivity, especially given the upward growth rate of 3.32% in this profession.
More salary data for Decatur, AL:
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
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 BLS reported a median annual salary of $104,617 for physician assistantsin the Decatur metropolitan area. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Decatur is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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