Physician Assistant Salary in East Lansing, MI: $131,369 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in East Lansing, MI earns a median $131,369/year (≈ $63.16/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in East Lansing's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.2), that paycheck buys what $140,954 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.7% below the Michigan state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the physician assistant salary in East Lansing, MI, is projected to reach a median of $131,369, reflecting the unique demands of the local healthcare landscape. This compensation is notably lower than the national median of $140,391, representing a 6.43% divergence that highlights regional pay differences. The salary range for PAs in this area spans from $103,135 at the lower end (P10) to $184,347 at the higher end (P90), indicating considerable variability based on factors such as specialty and experience. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for the cost of living, underline that surgical PAs frequently command higher salaries, particularly in fields like orthopedic and cardiothoracic surgery, where the first-assist billing model significantly boosts earning potential.
About the East Lansing Market
Salary estimated from Michigan average ($122,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $103,135 | $49.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $120,471 | $57.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $131,369 | $63.16 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $152,545 | $73.34 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $184,347 | $88.63 |
Median Salary Position
6.43% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in East Lansing
In East Lansing, MI, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $81,212 (2026 est.). At $131,369, the local median is 6.43% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in East Lansing: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How East Lansing Physician Assistant Pay Compares
East Lansing median: $131,369/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | East Lansing Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Average | $135,015 | -2.70% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -6.43% less |
Physician Assistants in East Lansing, MI earn a median of $131,369 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.43% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 2.70% below the Michigan state average of $135,015.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
East Lansing has a cost of living 6.80% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
East Lansing, MI has a cost-of-living index of 93.2 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $131,369 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $140,954 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.3% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$105,046
2025 BLS Actual
$127,148
2026 Current Est.
$131,369
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in East Lansing (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $105,046 | Actual |
| 2020 | $107,975 | Actual |
| 2021 | $113,720 | Actual |
| 2022 | $117,912 | Actual |
| 2023 | $121,665 | Actual |
| 2024 | $109,362 | Actual |
| 2025 | $127,148 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $131,369 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $135,731 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the East Lansing metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 21.0% from $105,046 (2019) to $127,148 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $135,731 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,685 (29.21%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the East Lansing 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) | $103,135 – $120,471 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $120,471 – $131,369 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $131,369 – $152,545 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $152,545 – $184,347 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in East Lansing
Currently, East Lansing hosts eight physician assistants, suggesting a relatively small but potentially competitive job market. With a cost-of-living index of 93.2, the purchasing power in East Lansing adds a layer of context to what these professionals take home. Surgical specialty practices and hospital systems typically offer the highest pay, whereas positions in primary care and urgent care like dermatology may fall on the lower end. Various factors influence the salary spread, such as first-assist case loads, on-call duties, and the compensation structures of 1099 contract work versus traditional W-2 employment. Those looking to maximize physician assistant pay in East Lansing should prioritize specialties with higher first-assist opportunities, leverage RVU productivity bonuses, and consider the benefits of hospital employment for stability and compensation longevity.
More salary data for East Lansing, MI:
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 $127,148 for physician assistantsin the East Lansing 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 East Lansing 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