Physician assistant salary in Maryland
Maryland physician assistants earn a median of $137,560 a year ($66.13 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 1% above the national median of $135,880, and ranks 17th of 51 states.
Median, Maryland
$137,560
Mean $139,740
Middle half earns
$125,140 to $160,090
US: $120,670 to $163,980
Employed in Maryland
2,950
1.02x the national concentration
Where Maryland sits in the range
Maryland
Statewide
United States
National
Philadelphia
Metro area
Washington
Metro area
Baltimore
Metro area
Hagerstown
Metro area
Physician assistant pay by percentile
Ten percent of Maryland physician assistants earned less than $110,190 and ten percent earned more than $174,280, a spread of $64,090. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | Maryland | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $110,190 | $99,380 | +10.9% |
| 25th | $125,140 | $120,670 | +3.7% |
| Median | $137,560 | $135,880 | +1.2% |
| 75th | $160,090 | $163,980 | -2.4% |
| 90th | $174,280 | $190,280 | -8.4% |
Physician assistant pay by metro area
BLS published PA pay for 6 metro areas that include part of Maryland. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has the highest median at $148,200. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,390 | $135,640 | $123,870 to $157,050 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,020 | $148,200 | $129,990 to $174,280 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,660 | $138,790 | $130,460 to $160,090 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 120 | $137,220 | $124,190 to $158,520 |
| Salisbury, MDmoderate precision | 90 | $142,580 | $127,990 to $160,290 |
| Lexington Park, MDmoderate precision | 60 | $136,860 | $111,260 to $155,580 |
How PA pay compares with other clinicians in Maryland
| Occupation | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Physician assistant | $137,560 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $131,110 | $132,300 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $223,140 | $236,590 |
| Registered nurse | $99,790 | $97,550 |
The Maryland PA workforce
BLS counts 2,950 physician assistants on Maryland payrolls, or 1.07 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, close to the national concentration. The federal NPI registry, which also counts self-employed and part-time clinicians, lists 4,389 physician assistants with a Maryland practice address, and 199 new PA NPIs there in the past twelve months.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $125,140, it sits in the bottom quarter of what Maryland physician assistants earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $160,090, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about PA pay in Maryland
How much does a PA make in Maryland?
The median annual wage for physician assistants in Maryland was $137,560 in May 2025, and the mean was $139,740, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $125,140 and $160,090.
What is the hourly rate for physician assistants in Maryland?
The median hourly wage was $66.13 and the mean was $67.18. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do PAs earn the most in Maryland?
Among Maryland metro areas with published data, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV had the highest median at $148,200, and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD the lowest at $135,640.
How does Maryland rank for PA pay?
Maryland ranks 17th of 51 states (including DC) by median PA pay, 1% above the national median of $135,880. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many physician assistants work in Maryland?
BLS estimated 2,950 physician assistants employed in Maryland in May 2025. The federal NPI registry lists 4,389 with a Maryland practice address.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1071, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
Have an offer on the table?
Book a free intro call with Max. Tell him what you are weighing, and he will tell you whether coaching would help, or whether you just need a few answers.