Physician Assistants pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,040 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in Hickory earn between $108,330 and $135,520.
- $101K10th
- $108K25th
- $127KMedian
- $136K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $128,280 | $10,690 | $61.67 |
| Median | $127,210 | $10,601 | $61.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $108,330 | $9,028 | $52.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $135,520 | $11,293 | $65.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Physician assistants in Hickory earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($130,030) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($141,280). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $128,280 | $127,210 | $100,870 | $158,040 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $130,030 | $129,360 | $101,100 | $164,770 | 7,490 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $128,280, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $94,336 a year, or $7,861 a month and $3,628 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $128,280 buys what about $144,972 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 11th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($139,930).
- Greenville$139,930
- Fayetteville$138,410
- Durham$135,890
- Pinehurst$135,670
- Asheville$133,670
- Winston-Salem$133,140
- Charlotte$131,190
- Wilmington$131,140
- Greensboro$131,080
- Hickory$128,280
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Physician Assistants salary in Hickory: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in Hickory?
$61.67 an hour on average, and $61.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $108,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in Hickory?
About $94,336 a year ($7,861 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $128,280.
Do physician assistants earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.