Physician Assistant Salary in Billings, MT: $146,167 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Billings, MT earns a median $146,167/year (≈ $70.28/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Billings's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.5), that paycheck buys what $156,285 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.8% above the Montana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the compensation landscape for physician assistants in Billings, Montana reflects the structural choices prevalent in healthcare employment. With a median annual salary of $146,167, PAs here find their earnings competitive when compared nationally, where the typical salary stands at $140,391. The projected salary range in Billings spans from $119,500 at the lower end (P10) to $163,773 at the high end (P90). Data is derived from the 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, projecting an encouraging growth trajectory both locally and within the broader national context. The choice between W-2 hospital positions and 1099 surgical practice roles often influences these financial outcomes, impacting not only base salaries but also additional compensation structures such as productivity bonuses and call coverage.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $119,500 | $57.46 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $133,810 | $64.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $146,167 | $70.28 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $146,167 | $70.28 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $163,773 | $78.74 |
Median Salary Position
4.11% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Billings
In Billings, MT, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $44,273 (2026 est.). At $146,167, the local median is 4.11% above the national median of $140,391.
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At 40 hours/week in Billings: You'd be above the median
How Billings Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Billings median: $146,167/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Billings Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Average | $139,472 | +4.80% more |
| National Average | $140,391 | +4.11% more |
Physician Assistants in Billings, MT earn a median of $146,167 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.11% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 4.80% above the Montana state average of $139,472.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Billings has a cost of living 6.47% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Billings, MT has a cost-of-living index of 93.526 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $146,167 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $156,285 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.92% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$112,090
2025 BLS Actual
$141,470
2026 Current Est.
$146,167
2019–2027 Growth
+34.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Billings (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $112,090 | Actual |
| 2020 | $119,220 | Actual |
| 2021 | $131,080 | Actual |
| 2022 | $136,440 | Actual |
| 2023 | $131,340 | Actual |
| 2024 | $136,640 | Actual |
| 2025 | $141,470 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $146,167 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $151,020 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Billings metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 26.2% from $112,090 (2019) to $141,470 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $151,020 by 2027 — a total increase of $38,930 (34.73%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Billings 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) | $119,500 – $133,810 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $133,810 – $146,167 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $146,167 – $146,167 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $146,167 – $163,773 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Billings
The job market for physician assistants in Billings shows strength, with approximately 150 professionals currently employed in the area. Coupled with a cost-of-living index of 93.526—indicating a below-average living expense—this environment has the potential to enhance purchasing power for PAs, compared to other regions. Employers within hospital systems typically offer some of the most lucrative packages, particularly for those specializing in high-demand areas such as orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery. The disparity in compensation can be attributed largely to specialty, case volume involvement, and whether one operates under a hospital employment versus private practice model. For those looking to maximize their take-home pay, focusing on high-volume specialties and negotiating for RVU productivity bonuses may offer the best financial returns in Billings MT.
More salary data for Billings, MT:
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 $141,470 for physician assistantsin the Billings 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