Physician Assistants pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $101,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $153,170 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in Altoona earn between $104,190 and $133,790.
- $101K10th
- $104K25th
- $123KMedian
- $134K75th
- $153K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $120,220 | $10,018 | $57.80 |
| Median | $123,270 | $10,272 | $59.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $104,190 | $8,682 | $50.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,790 | $11,149 | $64.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Physician assistants in Altoona earn 4% less than the Pennsylvania average ($125,160) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($141,280). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $120,220 | $123,270 | $101,230 | $153,170 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $125,160 | $127,070 | $99,050 | $158,690 | 9,020 |
| United States | $141,280 | $135,880 | $99,380 | $190,280 | 162,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physician Assistants salary after taxes in Altoona
On the average salary of $120,220, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $89,714 a year, or $7,476 a month and $3,451 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Altoona a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Altoona area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.5), so the average $120,220 buys what about $134,314 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Altoona ($44,270). A typical home costs $178,052, or 1.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 12th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Lebanon pays the most ($141,960).
- Lebanon$141,960
- Philadelphia$139,080
- Reading$131,290
- Johnstown$127,390
- Scranton$126,100
- Allentown$124,750
- State College$122,700
- York$121,670
- Harrisburg$121,460
- Altoona$120,220
Highest-paying cities for physician assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($207,660).
- San Jose, CA$207,660
- Salinas, CA$202,320
- San Francisco, CA$182,610
- Vallejo, CA$182,520
- Bakersfield, CA$177,840
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Physician Assistants salary in Altoona: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in Altoona?
$57.80 an hour on average, and $59.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $101,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $104,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in Altoona?
About $89,714 a year ($7,476 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $120,220. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do physician assistants earn more in Altoona than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($141,280).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1071; area Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.12, this job is 3.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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