Physician Assistant Salary in McAllen, TX: $136,248 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in McAllen, TX earns a median $136,248/year (≈ $65.50/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in McAllen's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.9), that paycheck buys what $158,622 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.8% below the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the expected physician assistant salary in McAllen, Texas, is projected to be $136,248, which reflects a slight decrease of 2.95% when compared to the national median of $140,391. The full salary range for physician assistants in this area spans from $105,417 at the 10th percentile to a high of $202,972 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, indicate that the compensation landscape for physician assistants is influenced significantly by local market dynamics, particularly the prevalence of surgical first-assist roles, which typically command higher salaries. Such roles in specialties like orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery contribute to the impressive salary potential in McAllen, a city that is increasingly recognizing the indispensable role of PAs in bridging healthcare service gaps.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $105,417 | $50.68 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $131,196 | $63.08 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $136,248 | $65.50 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $140,650 | $67.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $202,972 | $97.59 |
Median Salary Position
2.95% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in McAllen
In McAllen, TX, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $97,555 (2026 est.). At $136,248, the local median is 2.95% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in McAllen: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How McAllen Physician Assistant Pay Compares
McAllen median: $136,248/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | McAllen Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $137,347 | -0.80% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -2.95% less |
Physician Assistants in McAllen, TX earn a median of $136,248 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.95% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 0.80% below the Texas state average of $137,347.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
McAllen has a cost of living 14.11% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
McAllen, TX has a cost-of-living index of 85.895 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $136,248 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $158,622 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.42% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$116,410
2025 BLS Actual
$131,870
2026 Current Est.
$136,248
2019–2027 Growth
+20.9%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in McAllen (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $116,410 | Actual |
| 2020 | $122,060 | Actual |
| 2021 | $122,790 | Actual |
| 2022 | $118,340 | Actual |
| 2023 | $124,990 | Actual |
| 2024 | $126,800 | Actual |
| 2025 | $131,870 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $136,248 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $140,772 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the McAllen metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 13.3% from $116,410 (2019) to $131,870 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $140,772 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,362 (20.93%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the McAllen 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) | $105,417 – $131,196 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $131,196 – $136,248 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $136,248 – $140,650 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $140,650 – $202,972 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in McAllen
The job market in McAllen currently employs approximately 400 physician assistants, indicating a solid demand for this profession in the region. A cost-of-living index of 85.895 suggests that salaries in McAllen stretch further compared to many areas, enhancing the take-home purchasing power for PAs. Among the local employers, hospital systems and surgical specialty practices tend to offer the most competitive compensation packages, especially for those engaged in first-assist roles or high-volume surgical cases. Factors such as specialty focus, productivity incentives like RVU bonuses, and whether a PA is on a W-2 employment model versus working under a 1099 structure significantly impact income variability. For aspiring PAs in McAllen, focusing on surgical specialties and seeking opportunities to enhance productivity through case volume and call coverage may optimize earnings potential in this evolving healthcare market.
More salary data for McAllen, TX:
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 $131,870 for physician assistantsin the McAllen 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