Physician Assistant Salary in Columbia, MO: $136,610 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Columbia, MO earns a median $136,610/year (≈ $65.68/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Columbia's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.4), that paycheck buys what $152,743 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.6% below the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Columbia, Missouri, physician assistants earn a median annual salary of $136,610. This figure is slightly below the national median for this profession, which stands at $140,391. The salary range in the area extends from $110,904 at the 10th percentile to $167,037 at the 90th percentile, indicating a spectrum that reflects specialty variations in pay. These insights are derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, which show how surgical PAs, particularly in orthopedic and cardiothoracic specialties, often secure higher compensation than those in primary care settings. This dynamic shapes the job market for physician assistants in Columbia, creating distinct compensation pathways based on expertise and service demand.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $110,904 | $53.31 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $112,216 | $53.95 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $136,610 | $65.68 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $157,325 | $75.64 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $167,037 | $80.31 |
Median Salary Position
2.69% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Columbia
In Columbia, MO, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,133 (2026 est.). At $136,610, the local median is 2.69% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Columbia: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Columbia Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Columbia median: $136,610/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Columbia Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $140,256 | -2.60% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -2.69% less |
Physician Assistants in Columbia, MO earn a median of $136,610 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.69% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 2.60% below the Missouri state average of $140,256.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Columbia has a cost of living 10.56% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Columbia, MO has a cost-of-living index of 89.438 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $136,610 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $152,743 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.81% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$94,010
2025 BLS Actual
$132,220
2026 Current Est.
$136,610
2019–2027 Growth
+50.1%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Columbia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $94,010 | Actual |
| 2020 | $101,510 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,040 | Actual |
| 2022 | $109,420 | Actual |
| 2023 | $127,870 | Actual |
| 2024 | $130,790 | Actual |
| 2025 | $132,220 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $136,610 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $141,145 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Columbia metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 40.6% from $94,010 (2019) to $132,220 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $141,145 by 2027 — a total increase of $47,135 (50.14%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Columbia 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) | $110,904 – $112,216 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $112,216 – $136,610 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $136,610 – $157,325 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $157,325 – $167,037 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Columbia
Analyzing the employment situation in Columbia, there are currently 140 physician assistants in the area, contributing to a robust local healthcare ecosystem. With a cost-of-living index of 89.438, the financial landscape offers a favorable environment for take-home purchasing power compared to many national averages. Predictably, employers affiliated with surgical specialties such as orthopedics tend to provide higher pay, particularly for those engaged in first-assist roles. Factors such as procedure volume, call coverage requirements, and different compensation structures between hospital systems and private practices contribute to the variation in salaries. To maximize earnings in Columbia, PAs should consider pursuing high-demand specialties, negotiating based on their productivity, and exploring hospital employment options, which traditionally offer more stable benefits and competitive pay scales than 1099 locum positions.
More salary data for Columbia, MO:
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 $132,220 for physician assistantsin the Columbia 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