Physician Assistant Salary in Winston, NC: $135,070 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Winston, NC earns a median $135,070/year (≈ $64.94/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Winston's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $146,747 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Winston, North Carolina, offers a competitive physician assistant salary at a projected median of $135,070 for 2026, slightly below the national median of $140,391. The salary range spans from a lower percentile of $108,052 to an upper percentile of $174,828, reflecting the diverse specialties and roles within the profession. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, this compensation landscape highlights the gradient between surgical and primary care specialties in the local market. Surgical PAs, particularly in orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, tend to command higher salaries due to their involvement in first-assist duties and specialized procedures, while primary care roles are positioned at the lower end of the salary spectrum, impacting overall market dynamics in Winston.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $108,052 | $51.95 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $121,856 | $58.58 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $135,070 | $64.94 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $149,266 | $71.77 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $174,828 | $84.05 |
Median Salary Position
3.79% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Winston
In Winston, NC, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $66,776 (2026 est.). At $135,070, the local median is 3.79% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Winston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Winston Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Winston median: $135,070/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Winston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $140,391 | -3.79% less |
Physician Assistants in Winston, NC earn a median of $135,070 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.79% lower than the national median of $140,391.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Winston has a cost of living 7.96% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Winston, NC has a cost-of-living index of 92.043 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $135,070 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $146,747 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.65% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$106,760
2025 BLS Actual
$130,730
2026 Current Est.
$135,070
2019–2027 Growth
+30.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Winston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $106,760 | Actual |
| 2020 | $112,800 | Actual |
| 2021 | $121,530 | Actual |
| 2022 | $129,450 | Actual |
| 2023 | $134,010 | Actual |
| 2024 | $131,570 | Actual |
| 2025 | $130,730 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $135,070 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $139,555 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Winston metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 22.5% from $106,760 (2019) to $130,730 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $139,555 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,795 (30.72%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Winston 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) | $108,052 – $121,856 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $121,856 – $135,070 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $135,070 – $149,266 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $149,266 – $174,828 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Winston
In Winston, approximately 730 physician assistants are currently employed, indicating a robust job market for this healthcare profession. The cost of living index stands at 92.043, providing a relatively affordable lifestyle compared to the national average. This affordability enhances the purchasing power for PAs working in diverse settings such as hospital systems, surgical specialty practices, and urgent care facilities. Notably, surgical and emergency departments frequently offer higher salaries than primary care offices and dermatology clinics, driven by factors such as case volume, call coverage requirements, and RVU productivity bonuses. To maximize earnings, physician assistants in Winston may consider seeking employment in surgical roles, taking on additional responsibilities, or pursuing locum tenens assignments that typically offer competitive pay structures absent in standard employment arrangements.
More salary data for Winston, NC:
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 $130,730 for physician assistantsin the Winston 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