How does company size affect Physician Assistant pay in Austin?

Large enterprises in Austin pay Physician Assistants 10 to 20% more in base, but startups compensate with equity. The range of $105,000 to $142,000 spans both.

What is the entry level Physician Assistant salary in Austin?

Entry level Physician Assistant positions in Austin start near $105,000. Candidates with strong backgrounds negotiate toward $122,000.

What is the career path for a Physician Assistant?

Entry-level PAs earn $95,000 to $105,000 in their first role. Austin's COL multiplier amplifies compensation at senior levels.

What should I ask about benefits when interviewing for a Physician Assistant in Austin?

Ask about equity, bonuses, 401(k), health insurance, PTO, and remote flexibility. Benefits in Austin can add $30,500+ to base salary.

Physician Assistant.

Austin.

$122,000

median salary, 3% above the national average

$105,000 to $142,000. Updated for 2026.

Get your playbook

The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

Austin is 3% more expensive than the national average. For Physician Assistants, that shakes out to a median of $122,000, with the full range spanning $105,000 to $142,000. Surgical subspecialties and emergency medicine pay the highest PA salaries, often 20 to 30% above primary care. Know the range before you walk in.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$105,000

per year

Median

$122,000

per year

75th Percentile

$142,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$105,000$142,000

How Austin compares

Austin, TX

$122,000

Cost of living: 3% above average

National Average

$118,000

Austin is $4,000 above

What you should know

The Physician Assistant landscape in Austin is not what most salary sites will tell you. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Surgical subspecialties and emergency medicine pay the highest PA salaries, often 20 to 30% above primary care. Geographic location matters significantly, with rural and underserved areas offering premium pay to attract talent. Experience in procedural skills and first-assist certification further boost compensation.

Entry-level PAs earn $95,000 to $105,000 in their first role. Mid-career PAs with specialty experience reach $120,000 to $135,000. Senior PAs in surgical specialties or leadership positions can command $145,000 to $165,000 with additional administrative responsibilities. In Austin, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. PAs commonly receive productivity bonuses, CME allowances of $2,000 to $5,000 annually, malpractice insurance, and relocation assistance. Hospital systems often add shift differentials for nights, weekends, and call coverage. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $122,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for Physician Assistants in Austin runs from $105,000 to $142,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Top industries in Austin

TechnologySemiconductorsClean EnergyHealthcareGovernment

Negotiating in Austin

Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher.

Common questions.

Surgical PAs earn 20 to 30% more than primary care PAs on average. Orthopedic and cardiothoracic surgery PAs often exceed $140,000, while family medicine PAs typically fall in the $105,000 to $120,000 range.

Many PAs receive productivity bonuses tied to relative value units or patient encounters. These bonuses can add $5,000 to $20,000 annually, particularly in high-volume practices where PAs manage their own patient panels independently.

In Austin, large enterprises typically pay Physician Assistants 10 to 20% more in base salary than small companies, but startups often compensate with equity that can exceed base salary value. PAs commonly receive productivity bonuses, CME allowances of $2,000 to $5,000 annually, malpractice insurance, and relocation assistance. The $105,000 to $142,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

Texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Entry level Physician Assistant positions in Austin typically start near $105,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $122,000. Entry-level PAs earn $95,000 to $105,000 in their first role.

Entry-level PAs earn $95,000 to $105,000 in their first role. Mid-career PAs with specialty experience reach $120,000 to $135,000. Senior PAs in surgical specialties or leadership positions can command $145,000 to $165,000 with additional administrative responsibilities. In Austin, each step up the ladder is amplified by the local cost of living multiplier, which means senior roles pay proportionally more than in lower cost markets.

Ask about equity structure, vesting schedule, annual bonus targets, 401(k) match, health insurance premiums, PTO policy, and remote flexibility. PAs commonly receive productivity bonuses, CME allowances of $2,000 to $5,000 annually, malpractice insurance, and relocation assistance. In Austin's market, these extras can add $30,500 or more on top of the base salary.