Family Practice PA Salary Guide

According to 2024 figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), physician assistants in the United States earn an average annual salary of $133,260.

This figure reflects the overall compensation for PAs nationwide and serves as a reliable benchmark for family practice physician assistants as well.

Locum tenens family practice PA can make upwards of $86 per hour on average, however, there are many factors that impact rates including location, years of experience, and the level of demand.

If you were to extrapolate that rate over a year (at 40 hours per week), the average locum salary comes out to around $178,880. 

That means locum tenens family practice PAs can make up to 34% more than the average provider. However, making direct salary comparisons can be complicated. While perm family practice PAs are more likely to be salaried, locum tenens family practice PAs are independent contractors earning an hourly rate, which can vary based on which assignments they take in a year. 

Furthermore, because locum tenens family practice PA are paid by the hour, the hours they work are directly reflected in their pay, while a salaried family practice PA additional hours may not be reflected in their salary.

Finally, paid time off and insurance may be reflected in the perm family practice PA salary structure, but locum tenens providers do have options when it comes to health insurance. 

The most recent state breakdown of PA salaries comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, though the BLS was not able to collect enough data for all 50 states. That said, the top five highest paying states for PA salary are:

• California
• Washington
• Oregon
• New York
• New Jersey

While the salaries for PAs by specialty have little differentiation, the setting in which PAs work can affect their compensation. The highest earning PAs by practice setting according to the BLS include: 

• Employment Services
• Federal Executive Branch
• Other Ambulatory Health Care Services
• Outpatient Care Centers
• Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals

The average PA salary increased by 5% from 2023 to 2024, according to Medscape’s 2025 “Physician Assistant Compensation Report.” Based on this information, family practice PAs can expect to make $139,923 in annual compensation in 2025.