Physician assistant salary in Michigan
Michigan physician assistants earn a median of $131,510 a year ($63.23 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 3% below the national median of $135,880, and ranks 37th of 51 states.
Median, Michigan
$131,510
Mean $132,140
Middle half earns
$119,990 to $143,030
US: $120,670 to $163,980
Employed in Michigan
6,310
1.37x the national concentration
Where Michigan sits in the range
Michigan
Statewide
United States
National
Detroit
Metro area
Grand Rapids
Metro area
Ann Arbor
Metro area
Flint
Metro area
Physician assistant pay by percentile
Ten percent of Michigan physician assistants earned less than $104,000 and ten percent earned more than $162,570, a spread of $58,570. 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 | Michigan | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $104,000 | $99,380 | +4.6% |
| 25th | $119,990 | $120,670 | -0.6% |
| Median | $131,510 | $135,880 | -3.2% |
| 75th | $143,030 | $163,980 | -12.8% |
| 90th | $162,570 | $190,280 | -14.6% |
Physician assistant pay by metro area
BLS published PA pay for 14 metro areas that include part of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI has the highest median at $135,310. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,400 | $131,830 | $121,800 to $143,030 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 940 | $131,930 | $112,730 to $136,670 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 810 | $135,310 | $133,890 to $156,230 |
| Flint, MImoderate precision | 280 | $125,190 | $114,630 to $129,680 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 260 | $128,230 | $112,160 to $134,480 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 210 | $127,570 | $124,550 to $141,230 |
| Traverse City, MI | 170 | $134,180 | $114,380 to $144,730 |
| Saginaw, MI | 120 | $130,270 | $116,770 to $140,540 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 110 | $132,230 | $130,850 to $132,230 |
| Midland, MI | 110 | $129,860 | $110,290 to $129,860 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MImoderate precision | 100 | $129,620 | $121,590 to $172,960 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 70 | $130,870 | $108,340 to $139,290 |
| Niles, MI | 60 | $128,480 | $117,660 to $142,770 |
| Jackson, MI | 50 | $130,640 | $114,140 to $139,720 |
How PA pay compares with other clinicians in Michigan
| Occupation | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Physician assistant | $131,510 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $131,450 | $132,300 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $247,010 | $236,590 |
| Registered nurse | $94,300 | $97,550 |
The Michigan PA workforce
BLS counts 6,310 physician assistants on Michigan payrolls, or 1.43 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, more concentrated than in the country as a whole. The federal NPI registry, which also counts self-employed and part-time clinicians, lists 8,216 physician assistants with a Michigan practice address, and 359 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 $119,990, it sits in the bottom quarter of what Michigan 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 $143,030, 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 Michigan
How much does a PA make in Michigan?
The median annual wage for physician assistants in Michigan was $131,510 in May 2025, and the mean was $132,140, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $119,990 and $143,030.
What is the hourly rate for physician assistants in Michigan?
The median hourly wage was $63.23 and the mean was $63.53. 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 Michigan?
Among Michigan metro areas with published data, Ann Arbor, MI had the highest median at $135,310, and Flint, MI the lowest at $125,190.
How does Michigan rank for PA pay?
Michigan ranks 37th of 51 states (including DC) by median PA pay, 3% below 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 Michigan?
BLS estimated 6,310 physician assistants employed in Michigan in May 2025. The federal NPI registry lists 8,216 with a Michigan 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.