Physician Assistant Salary in Richmond, VA: $131,020 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Richmond, VA earns a median $131,020/year (≈ $62.99/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Richmond's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.9), that paycheck buys what $133,888 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Richmond, Virginia, the physician assistant salary landscape reflects a median annual income of $131,020 as projected for 2026, which is approximately 6.67% less than the national median of $140,391. The salary range for PAs in this city varies, with the lower end at $96,129 (10th percentile) and the upper end reaching $177,555 (90th percentile), according to data derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys. This compensation structure illustrates a dynamic job market influenced by various specialty fields. Surgical PAs, particularly in orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, tend to earn higher salaries due to the first-assist billing model that significantly impacts their compensation.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $96,129 | $46.22 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $111,389 | $53.55 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $131,020 | $62.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $148,522 | $71.40 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $177,555 | $85.36 |
Median Salary Position
6.67% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Richmond
In Richmond, VA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $81,426 (2026 est.). At $131,020, the local median is 6.67% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Richmond: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Richmond Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Richmond median: $131,020/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Richmond Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $130,628 | +0.30% more |
| National Average | $140,391 | -6.67% less |
Physician Assistants in Richmond, VA earn a median of $131,020 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.67% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 0.30% above the Virginia state average of $130,628.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Richmond has a cost of living 2.14% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Richmond, VA has a cost-of-living index of 97.858 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $131,020 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $133,888 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.19% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$104,980
2025 BLS Actual
$126,810
2026 Current Est.
$131,020
2019–2027 Growth
+28.9%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Richmond (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $104,980 | Actual |
| 2020 | $114,570 | Actual |
| 2021 | $103,210 | Actual |
| 2022 | $104,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $117,850 | Actual |
| 2024 | $130,050 | Actual |
| 2025 | $126,810 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $131,020 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $135,370 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Richmond metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 20.8% from $104,980 (2019) to $126,810 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $135,370 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,390 (28.95%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Richmond 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) | $96,129 – $111,389 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $111,389 – $131,020 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $131,020 – $148,522 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $148,522 – $177,555 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Richmond
With around 620 physician assistants employed in the Richmond area, the local job market remains robust. The cost of living index stands at 97.858, indicating that living expenses are somewhat lower than the national average, which enhances the overall purchasing power for professionals in this sector. Among employers, hospital systems generally offer W-2 positions, while surgical specialty practices and emergency departments may provide higher-paying opportunities. The variation in compensation can be tied to factors such as practice specialty, first-assist case volume, and additional incentives like RVU productivity bonuses. To maximize earnings in Richmond, aspiring PAs should consider pursuing positions in surgical settings, honing skills that are in demand, and actively seeking roles that offer bonuses or incentives based on productivity.
More salary data for Richmond, VA:
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 $126,810 for physician assistantsin the Richmond 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