Senior Physician Assistant Salary in Iowa City, IA: $179,859 (2026)
Quick Answer:The top tier of physician assistants working in Iowa City, IA — those at or above the 90th percentile — pull in $179,859/year or more for 2026, based on BLS OEWS 2025 estimates for SOC 29-1071. Strip back Iowa City's price premium (BEA RPP 91.5, 8% below national) and that top-decile pay carries the same buying power as $196,548 in average-cost America. The 29% spread above city median typically rewards 7+ years of practice or specialty credentials.
Official BLS data · View source
Salaries for senior physician assistants in Iowa City, Iowa, exhibit a notable range, with the projected median annual salary for 2026 set at $139,244. Top earners in this region can anticipate salaries reaching $179,859, making a considerable jump from the median. The significant pay gap emphasizes the experience premium that seasoned professionals can leverage to enhance their compensation. Achieving this top-tier pay in Iowa City entails robust clinical expertise, specialized training, and a focus on high-demand areas of practice, enabling experienced physician assistants to capitalize on their advanced skill sets more than their peers in other regions.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Iowa City
Experienced physician assistants at the top of the pay scale in Iowa City earn between $169,879 and $179,859 per year (2026 est.). This $61,568 range from 10th to 90th percentile reflects significant earnings potential growth over a career. The Iowa City median of $139,244 sits 0.82% below the US median.
Top PA Salary Comparison
| Level | Iowa City | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median (P50) | $139,244 | $140,391 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,879 | $169,424 |
| 90th Percentile (Top 10%) | $179,859 | $196,597 |
In Iowa City, experienced physician assistants (P90) earn 29.17% more than the local median — reflecting the significant value of specialization and tenure in this market.
What Drives Top Physician Assistant Pay in Iowa City
Advanced Certifications in Iowa
IA physician assistants with additional specialty certifications within the physician assistant field earn significantly above the $139,244 median. Expanded-scope credentials are increasingly valued by Iowa City employers.
Specialty Focus
Physician Assistants focusing on high-acuity or specialty areas within the physician assistant field in Iowa City command premium compensation, often reaching the $169,879–$179,859 range.
Large Health-System & Multi-Site Experience
Large hospital systems and multi-site employers in the Iowa City metro area often pay above-market rates for experienced physician assistants who demonstrate efficiency and leadership.
Employer Loyalty & Patient Relationships
Long-tenured physician assistants in Iowa City with established relationships have strong negotiating leverage. In this developing market, retention bonuses and annual raises are common for top performers.
Continuing Education & Leadership
Physician Assistants in Iowa who pursue advanced degrees, mentor junior staff, or lead clinical education programs position themselves for the highest compensation tiers and management roles.
Physician Assistant Career & Wage Growth Path in Iowa City
Clinical Physician Assistant
0-5 yearsSenior/Lead Physician Assistant
5-10 yearsPhysician Assistant Department Manager
10+ yearsEducator / Specialty Leadership
AdvancedIowa City ranks #12 of 26 Iowa cities for top earner physician assistant salary (90th percentile: $179,859).
Top 10% physician assistant compensation in Iowa City ($179,859) is 4.07% below the Iowa average P90 ($187,495).
2019 BLS Actual
$134,160
2025 BLS Actual
$174,080
2026 Current Est.
$179,859
2019–2027 Growth
+38.5%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Iowa City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $134,160 | Actual |
| 2020 | $141,630 | Actual |
| 2021 | $153,540 | Actual |
| 2022 | $138,600 | Actual |
| 2023 | $133,100 | Actual |
| 2024 | $138,360 | Actual |
| 2025 | $174,080 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $179,859 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $185,831 | Projected |
Top-earning physician assistants (90th percentile) in Iowa City saw their compensation grow 29.8% from $134,160 in 2019 to $174,080 in 2025, based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for this metropolitan area. At a 3.32% annual growth rate, senior-level pay is projected to reach $185,831 by 2027, reflecting continued demand for clinical expertise and expanded-function credentials.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Iowa City 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.
Maximizing Your Physician Assistant Earnings in Iowa City
The landscape of senior physician assistant pay in IA reflects substantial variation based on specialization and employer type. Positions in critical areas such as surgical, emergency medicine, and critical care tend to command higher compensation, often exceeding the general market rate for senior roles. Hospital systems may offer stable, salaried positions, while surgical specialty practices and emergency departments often provide opportunities for higher earnings linked to procedures and case volumes. The career trajectory for experienced PAs can also lead to roles such as lead PA or surgical first assist coordinator. Advanced credentials, like a Master's degree from an ARC-PA accredited program and NCCPA certification, are crucial to unlocking these higher-tier positions in Iowa City. Moreover, non-salary compensation factors, including RVU productivity bonuses and call coverage, can further augment earnings, particularly for those working in dynamic environments, thus highlighting the importance of strategic career management for maximizing total compensation in this profession.
More salary data for Iowa City, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do experienced physician assistants make in Iowa City in 2026?
What drives higher physician assistant pay in Iowa City?
What certifications boost physician assistant salary in Iowa City?
Can experienced physician assistants make six figures in Iowa City?
How much does physician assistant salary increase over time in Iowa City?
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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
Top-earner salary figures on this page are 2026 projections derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. BLS reported a 90th percentile salary of $174,080 for physician assistants in the Iowa City metro area. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 senior-level compensation. Individual earnings depend on certifications, specialization, practice type, and years of clinical experience.
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