How does company size affect Physician Assistant pay in Indianapolis?

Large enterprises in Indianapolis pay Physician Assistants 10 to 20% more in base, but startups compensate with equity. The range of $93,000 to $126,000 spans both.

Physician Assistant.

Q: What is the average Physician Assistant salary in Indianapolis?

The average Physician Assistant salary in Indianapolis, IN is $107,000 in 2026. The 25th percentile is $93,000 and the 75th percentile is $126,000.

Indianapolis.

$107,000

median salary, 9% below the national average

$93,000 to $126,000. Updated for 2026.

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The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

If you are evaluating a Physician Assistant offer in Indianapolis, IN, here is the reality: $93,000 to $126,000, with $107,000 as the midpoint. 9% below the national average. Surgical subspecialties and emergency medicine pay the highest PA salaries, often 20 to 30% above primary care. Do not accept the first number.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$93,000

per year

Median

$107,000

per year

75th Percentile

$126,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$93,000$126,000

How Indianapolis compares

Indianapolis, IN

$107,000

Cost of living: 9% below average

National Average

$118,000

Indianapolis is $11,000 below

What you should know

Here is what the Physician Assistant market actually looks like in Indianapolis. Indianapolis has a diversified economy led by healthcare, life sciences, and motorsports engineering. Eli Lilly's headquarters drives a major pharmaceutical and biotech cluster. The city's extremely affordable cost of living means that even moderate salaries deliver strong purchasing power, making it an underrated destination for professionals seeking financial stability. 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 Indianapolis, 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: indiana has a flat 3.05% state income tax, one of the lowest in the country. Marion County adds about 2.02% in local taxes. The combined rate remains well below most major metros. When someone quotes you $107,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Benchmark against pharmaceutical industry pay scales. Eli Lilly and the biotech cluster set high compensation floors that ripple across all professional roles in Indianapolis. The range for Physician Assistants in Indianapolis runs from $93,000 to $126,000. 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 Indianapolis

Pharmaceuticals & Life SciencesHealthcareMotorsports EngineeringInsuranceTechnology

Negotiating in Indianapolis

Benchmark against pharmaceutical industry pay scales. Eli Lilly and the biotech cluster set high compensation floors that ripple across all professional roles in Indianapolis.

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 2026, the average Physician Assistant salary in Indianapolis, IN is $107,000. The 25th percentile sits at $93,000 and the 75th percentile reaches $126,000. Where you land depends on your experience, the company's size, and the specific skills you bring.

In Indianapolis, 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 $93,000 to $126,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

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. In Indianapolis's market, the base range of $93,000 to $126,000 is just the starting point for negotiation.

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. In Indianapolis, these factors can push compensation from the 25th percentile of $93,000 to the 75th percentile of $126,000 or beyond.