Physician Assistant Salary in West Des Moines, IA: $136,487 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in West Des Moines, IA earns a median $136,487/year (≈ $65.62/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in West Des Moines's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.4), that paycheck buys what $150,981 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.6% below the Iowa state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In West Des Moines, Iowa, the compensation for physician assistants (PAs) reflects the unique dynamics of the local healthcare market. The 2026 median annual salary is projected to be $136,487, positioning PAs slightly below the national median of $140,391, highlighting a focus on surgical first-assist billing which significantly influences earnings in this area. The salary range for PAs spans from $102,959 at the 10th percentile to $190,900 at the 90th percentile, suggesting a robust opportunity for growth within the profession. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost factors, indicating that while compensation is competitive, variations based on specialties and practice settings remain pronounced in West Des Moines's healthcare market.
About the West Des Moines Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($118,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $102,959 | $49.50 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $119,552 | $57.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $136,487 | $65.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $165,597 | $79.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $190,900 | $91.78 |
Median Salary Position
2.78% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in West Des Moines
In West Des Moines, IA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $87,941 (2026 est.). At $136,487, the local median is 2.78% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in West Des Moines: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How West Des Moines Physician Assistant Pay Compares
West Des Moines median: $136,487/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | West Des Moines Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $137,311 | -0.60% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -2.78% less |
Physician Assistants in West Des Moines, IA earn a median of $136,487 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.78% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 0.60% below the Iowa state average of $137,311.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
West Des Moines has a cost of living 9.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost-of-living index of 90.4 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $136,487 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $150,981 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.62% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$109,138
2025 BLS Actual
$132,101
2026 Current Est.
$136,487
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in West Des Moines (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $109,138 | Actual |
| 2020 | $112,181 | Actual |
| 2021 | $118,150 | Actual |
| 2022 | $122,505 | Actual |
| 2023 | $126,404 | Actual |
| 2024 | $104,241 | Actual |
| 2025 | $132,101 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $136,487 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $141,018 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the West Des Moines metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 21.0% from $109,138 (2019) to $132,101 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $141,018 by 2027 — a total increase of $31,880 (29.21%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the West Des Moines 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) | $102,959 – $119,552 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $119,552 – $136,487 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $136,487 – $165,597 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $165,597 – $190,900 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in West Des Moines
Exploring how much do physician assistants make in West Des Moines reveals a promising job market with 16 PAs currently employed in the region. The cost of living index sits at 90.4, which is below the national average, allowing for greater purchasing power for local residents. Among the area's healthcare employers, surgical specialty practices, especially those in orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, typically offer the highest salaries due to the demanding nature of first-assist roles. The disparity in physician assistant pay in West Des Moines, IA, correlates with factors such as specialty, case volume, and employment structure—hospital roles generally provide more stability while private 1099 contracts can yield higher compensation under specific conditions. To enhance earnings, PAs should consider targeting high-demand specialties and seek positions that offer RVU productivity bonuses or significant call coverage incentives.
More salary data for West Des Moines, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 $132,101 for physician assistantsin the West Des Moines 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 West Des Moines 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