Best Paying States for Physician Assistants in 2019
Maximize your salary by moving to a state that pays PAs well; according to U.S. News and World Report the top paying states include: Washington, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Hawaii.
Of course, you might earn a higher salary in a different state, but that does not tell the whole story. Cost of living in one state compared to another might mean your salary does not go as far somewhere else. When deciding on a move and choosing between two places, it is important to look at the cost of living in the each region. Use a cost of living calculator to help compare how much your salary would be worth in a different city or state.
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1. Washington – 2019 PA Salary $120,200
With three cities in the top five, the state of Washington takes the top spot for highest paying state. Located in the Pacific Northwest, it provides easy access to Canada.
A benefit of living in Washington is the lack of a state income tax. Not having state income taxes taken out of your paycheck might sound great; it usually means other taxes are higher, such as higher sales tax. However, if you live in Vancouver, Washington you might be able to do your spending in Oregon, which has no sales tax.
The closer you live to Seattle the higher the cost of living will be. The eastern and southern parts of the state have significantly lower cost of living. A comparable income for a $100,000 salary in Vancouver, WA would be $148,325 in Seattle, WA.
If you’re looking at moving to a different state that does not have a state income tax, Washington might be a state to look at. Check out PA jobs in Washington.
2. New Jersey – 2019 PA Salary $119,260
Number two on the list is on the other side of the country from Washington. New Jersey is the only state on the East Coast to make the list.
Unlike the state of Washington, the cost of living throughout New Jersey is more even. The Seattle area is much more expensive than anywhere in New Jersey, with $100,000 salary in Seattle being equivalent to $79,806 in the Newark area.
If you like big city living, but don’t want to actually live in the big city than New Jersey might have an appeal to you. You have the proximity to New York without having to live there.
There are a lot of opportunities to for PAs in New Jersey. Check out some of the PA jobs in New Jersey.
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3. Nevada – 2019 PA salary $119,210
Want a state with even lower cost of living? Check out Nevada, taking the third spot on the list. In a recent NCCPA that used data from 2017, Nevada had the highest average salary.
Earning $100,000 after tax dollars in Seattle would be comparable to earning $67,483 NV Las Vegas. The cost of living in Las Vegas is 104% of the national average.
If living in a desert doesn’t sound bad than Nevada might be a great place to check out PA jobs.
4. North Dakota – 2019 PA salary $117,500
Iowa was home to the top city with the highest salaries for PAs, but North Dakota takes top Midwest State. The state with the lowest cost of living on this list, North Dakota comes in at number four.
The cost of living is much less in Bismarck, North Dakota with a cost of living at 97.3% of the national average. Although the average salary is not as high as the top three states, the cost of living is significantly less.
If you’re looking to maximize your salary and lower your cost of living than North Dakota would be where you want to look for your next PA job. Check out more PA jobs in North Dakota.
5. Hawaii – 2019 PA Salary $116,660
From the state with the lowest cost of living to the state with the highest cost of living; Hawaii rounds out the list of states with the highest PA salaries. Although you might earn a generous salary, it won’t go nearly as far if you’re living in Hawaii.
The cost of living in Hawaii is 190% of the national average. If you were making $100,000 in Bismarck, North Dakota you would need a salary of $195,375 to have a comparable living in Honolulu.
With such a high cost of living the salary in Hawaii does not seem comparable, but if you’re interested in living in a shack off the beach than you might want to consider Hawaii as your next home. Check out PA job opportunities in Hawaii.
When looking at average salaries for a state there is a lot to consider. Although, the average salary might be a lot, you must also consider the cost of living in a new area. Also, the cost of living in different cities in each state may vary quite a bit such as the case in Washington. Usually our decision to live in a certain city or state is based off other factors than job salary, but if you have the flexibility to move somewhere else be sure to check out PA jobs in these five states.
Did your state make the list? If so, how does your salary compare? Please comment below the original post, sign up to receive future posts by email and share with your friends!
