Physician Assistant Salary in Harrisonburg, VA: $130,596 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Harrisonburg, VA earns a median $130,596/year (≈ $62.79/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Harrisonburg's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 94.9), that paycheck buys what $137,626 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Harrisonburg, Virginia, physician assistants can expect a median annual salary of $130,596 in 2026, a figure that reflects unique local factors influencing compensation. The salary spectrum for this profession ranges from $78,895 at the lower end (P10) to $170,592 at the highest (P90). Such data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and it illustrates the emphasis on surgical first-assist roles, which often command higher salaries due to billing models in surgical settings. Harrisonburg has a compelling job market for physician assistants, where growth potential aligns with a focus on specialties that are well-represented locally.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $78,895 | $37.93 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $105,758 | $50.84 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $130,596 | $62.79 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $142,251 | $68.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $170,592 | $82.02 |
Median Salary Position
6.98% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Harrisonburg
In Harrisonburg, VA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $91,697 (2026 est.). At $130,596, the local median is 6.98% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Harrisonburg: You'd be above the median
How Harrisonburg Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Harrisonburg median: $130,596/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Harrisonburg Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $140,391 | -6.98% less |
Physician Assistants in Harrisonburg, VA earn a median of $130,596 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.98% lower than the national median of $140,391.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Harrisonburg has a cost of living 5.11% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Harrisonburg, VA has a cost-of-living index of 94.892 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $130,596 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $137,626 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.38% 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
$116,580
2025 BLS Actual
$126,400
2026 Current Est.
$130,596
2019–2027 Growth
+15.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Harrisonburg (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $116,580 | Actual |
| 2020 | $107,340 | Actual |
| 2021 | $100,640 | Actual |
| 2022 | $103,670 | Actual |
| 2023 | $105,970 | Actual |
| 2024 | $118,730 | Actual |
| 2025 | $126,400 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $130,596 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $134,932 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Harrisonburg metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 8.4% from $116,580 (2019) to $126,400 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $134,932 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,352 (15.74%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Harrisonburg 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) | $78,895 – $105,758 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $105,758 – $130,596 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $130,596 – $142,251 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $142,251 – $170,592 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Harrisonburg
The job market in Harrisonburg employs around 40 physician assistants, illustrating a niche environment that offers opportunities for both recent graduates and seasoned professionals. With a cost of living index of 94.892, living expenses are below the national average, allowing for a more favorable purchasing power for those in the field. Employers that typically offer higher compensation include hospital systems, surgical specialty practices, and emergency departments, with surgical PAs—particularly in orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery—often leading the pay scale due to the volume of first-assist cases and associated RVU productivity bonuses. The variance in salaries can also be attributed to call coverage responsibilities and differences between hospital employment versus 1099 arrangements in private practice. Those seeking to optimize their physician assistant pay in Harrisonburg, VA, should consider pursuing specialized roles, negotiating compensation packages that include productivity incentives, and aligning themselves with employers that value surgical expertise.
More salary data for Harrisonburg, VA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physician assistants make in Harrisonburg, VA in 2026?
Is Harrisonburg, VA a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Can physician assistants make $100K in Harrisonburg?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physician assistant salary in Harrisonburg?
How much does a physician assistant make per hour in Harrisonburg?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Virginia
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 $126,400 for physician assistantsin the Harrisonburg 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, 6-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