Physician Assistant Salary in Jefferson City, MO: $139,833 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Jefferson City, MO earns a median $139,833/year (≈ $67.23/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Jefferson City's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.0), that paycheck buys what $158,946 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% below the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the median annual salary for a physician assistant in Jefferson City, Missouri, is projected to be $139,833, slightly below the national median of $140,391. This compensation reflects the region's unique healthcare landscape, where surgical PAs, particularly in specialties like orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, benefit from first-assist billing. With a salary range spanning from $108,941 at the 10th percentile to $166,490 at the 90th percentile, there is a notable disparity in earnings that allows skilled practitioners to maximize their potential through specialty work. These projections are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, indicating a stable earning environment that is shaped by the specific demands of local healthcare facilities and their billing structures.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $108,941 | $52.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $124,749 | $59.98 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $139,833 | $67.23 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $166,490 | $80.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $166,490 | $80.04 |
Median Salary Position
0.4% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Jefferson City
In Jefferson City, MO, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $57,549 (2026 est.). At $139,833, the local median is 0.4% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Jefferson City: You'd be above the median
How Jefferson City Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Jefferson City median: $139,833/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Jefferson City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $140,254 | -0.30% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -0.40% less |
Physician Assistants in Jefferson City, MO earn a median of $139,833 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.40% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 0.30% below the Missouri state average of $140,254.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Jefferson City has a cost of living 12.03% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Jefferson City, MO has a cost-of-living index of 87.975 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $139,833 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $158,946 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.67% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$111,814
2025 BLS Actual
$135,340
2026 Current Est.
$139,833
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Jefferson City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $111,814 | Actual |
| 2020 | $114,931 | Actual |
| 2021 | $121,047 | Actual |
| 2022 | $125,509 | Actual |
| 2023 | $129,503 | Actual |
| 2024 | $100,722 | Actual |
| 2025 | $135,340 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $139,833 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $144,476 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Jefferson City metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 21.0% from $111,814 (2019) to $135,340 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $144,476 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,662 (29.21%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Jefferson City 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) | $108,941 – $124,749 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $124,749 – $139,833 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $139,833 – $166,490 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $166,490 – $166,490 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Jefferson City
In Jefferson City, approximately 40 physician assistants are currently employed, reflecting a competitive job market for this occupation. The cost of living index stands at 87.975, indicating a lower living expense compared to national averages, thus enhancing the purchasing power of salaries in this area. Employers with the highest pay often include hospital systems, surgical specialty practices, and emergency departments; however, working in primary care or urgent care settings may yield lower compensation. Factors that contribute to income variation include case volume, area of specialization, and whether practitioners are employed under a hospital W-2 structure or working as independent contractors under a 1099 setup. For those seeking to increase their earning potential, focusing on high-demand specialties, negotiating contracts effectively, and pursuing additional certifications can be advantageous strategies in the evolving healthcare landscape of Jefferson City, MO.
More salary data for Jefferson City, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physician assistants make in Jefferson City, MO in 2026?
Is Jefferson City, MO a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Can physician assistants make $100K in Jefferson City?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physician assistant salary in Jefferson City?
How much does a physician assistant make per hour in Jefferson City?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Missouri
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 $135,340 for physician assistantsin the Jefferson City 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, 2-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