Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Physician Assistant's pay go, state by state?
A Physician Assistant's pay leaves the most room in Nevada — about $10,317/mo take-home against $1,478/mo typical rent — and the least in Alabama.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $10,317/mo | $1,478/mo | 14% |
| Washington | $10,200/mo | $1,641/mo | 16% |
| California | $10,237/mo | $1,969/mo | 19% |
| Wyoming | $8,901/mo | $979/mo | 11% |
| Alaska | $9,166/mo | $1,361/mo | 15% |
| Missouri | $8,754/mo | $997/mo | 11% |
| North Dakota | $8,623/mo | $911/mo | 11% |
| Connecticut | $9,157/mo | $1,483/mo | 16% |
| Vermont | $8,821/mo | $1,207/mo | 14% |
| New Mexico | $8,575/mo | $1,034/mo | 12% |
| Montana | $8,537/mo | $1,031/mo | 12% |
| Delaware | $8,809/mo | $1,321/mo | 15% |
| Iowa | $8,382/mo | $932/mo | 11% |
| Maine | $8,550/mo | $1,104/mo | 13% |
| Oregon | $8,758/mo | $1,431/mo | 16% |
| Wisconsin | $8,358/mo | $1,033/mo | 12% |
| New York | $8,937/mo | $1,621/mo | 18% |
| Minnesota | $8,534/mo | $1,230/mo | 14% |
| Hawaii | $9,188/mo | $1,927/mo | 21% |
| New Jersey | $8,912/mo | $1,656/mo | 19% |
| Oklahoma | $8,195/mo | $970/mo | 12% |
| New Hampshire | $8,644/mo | $1,424/mo | 16% |
| Texas | $8,520/mo | $1,328/mo | 16% |
| Michigan | $8,248/mo | $1,072/mo | 13% |
| Indiana | $8,141/mo | $1,022/mo | 13% |
| Nebraska | $8,131/mo | $1,017/mo | 13% |
| Massachusetts | $8,822/mo | $1,716/mo | 19% |
| North Carolina | $8,221/mo | $1,147/mo | 14% |
| Arizona | $8,468/mo | $1,419/mo | 17% |
| West Virginia | $7,853/mo | $848/mo | 11% |
| Louisiana | $8,014/mo | $1,028/mo | 13% |
| Rhode Island | $8,250/mo | $1,289/mo | 16% |
| South Dakota | $7,870/mo | $910/mo | 12% |
| Ohio | $7,942/mo | $986/mo | 12% |
| Utah | $8,324/mo | $1,396/mo | 17% |
| Idaho | $7,975/mo | $1,163/mo | 15% |
| Colorado | $8,372/mo | $1,659/mo | 20% |
| Maryland | $8,308/mo | $1,683/mo | 20% |
| Florida | $8,164/mo | $1,542/mo | 19% |
| Kansas | $7,603/mo | $1,025/mo | 13% |
| Pennsylvania | $7,746/mo | $1,176/mo | 15% |
| Illinois | $7,696/mo | $1,246/mo | 16% |
| Virginia | $7,929/mo | $1,547/mo | 20% |
| South Carolina | $7,456/mo | $1,131/mo | 15% |
| District of Columbia | $8,083/mo | $1,900/mo | 24% |
| Tennessee | $7,250/mo | $1,111/mo | 15% |
| Georgia | $7,358/mo | $1,320/mo | 18% |
| Kentucky | $6,727/mo | $918/mo | 14% |
| Arkansas | $6,449/mo | $903/mo | 14% |
| Alabama | $6,328/mo | $967/mo | 15% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.