Physician Assistant Salary in Lansing, MI: $132,487 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Lansing, MI earns a median $132,487/year (≈ $63.70/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Lansing's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.0), that paycheck buys what $139,473 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.8% below the Michigan state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lansing, MI, a professor of the medical field can expect a median annual salary of $132,487 in 2026, slightly below the national average of $140,391. This compensation range, spanning from $108,527 at the 10th percentile to $156,003 at the 90th percentile, reflects the varied demands of the profession and the local healthcare landscape. These figures are derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys, and they highlight a critical factor affecting earnings potential: the billing model for first-assist surgical roles. Given that surgical PAs have the opportunity to significantly impact revenue through first-assist billing, it's this particular specialty that drives much of the demand and, consequently, compensation in the market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $108,527 | $52.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $115,884 | $55.71 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $132,487 | $63.70 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $138,945 | $66.81 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $156,003 | $75.00 |
Median Salary Position
5.63% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lansing
In Lansing, MI, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,476 (2026 est.). At $132,487, the local median is 5.63% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lansing: You'd be above the median
How Lansing Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Lansing median: $132,487/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lansing Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Average | $134,916 | -1.80% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -5.63% less |
Physician Assistants in Lansing, MI earn a median of $132,487 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.63% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 1.80% below the Michigan state average of $134,916.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lansing has a cost of living 5.01% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lansing, MI has a cost-of-living index of 94.991 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $132,487 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $139,473 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.27% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$111,550
2025 BLS Actual
$128,230
2026 Current Est.
$132,487
2019–2027 Growth
+22.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Lansing (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $111,550 | Actual |
| 2020 | $117,170 | Actual |
| 2021 | $121,010 | Actual |
| 2022 | $124,220 | Actual |
| 2023 | $130,730 | Actual |
| 2024 | $130,410 | Actual |
| 2025 | $128,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $132,487 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $136,886 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lansing metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 15.0% from $111,550 (2019) to $128,230 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $136,886 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,336 (22.71%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the 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) | $108,527 – $115,884 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $115,884 – $132,487 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $132,487 – $138,945 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $138,945 – $156,003 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Lansing
Lansing supports approximately 260 physician assistants, validating a steady demand for this profession in the area. The cost of living index stands at 94.991, which is below the national average, potentially enhancing the purchasing power of salaries earned locally. Hospitals and surgical specialty practices—particularly in orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery—tend to offer the most lucrative positions, often higher than other facilities like urgent care centers or primary care offices. The variability in compensation can be attributed to factors such as specialization, case volume, and underlying structural differences in employment settings, where hospital employees generally receive more stability and benefits than locum tenens, or 1099 arrangements. For those seeking to maximize their pay in Lansing, pursuing a specialty in surgery, negotiating for RVU productivity bonuses, and focusing on first-assist opportunities in high-demand areas can be effective strategies.
More salary data for 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 $128,230 for physician assistantsin the 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
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