US
St. Louis, MO
Missouri salary market
$159K
Avg / Year
+19% vs U.S.
vs National
790
Employment
$13.3K
Monthly Avg
Updated for 2026

Physician Assistant Salary in St. Louis, MO (2026)

The Physician Assistant salary in St. Louis, MO for 2026 is presented as a modeled salary benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. This guide compares the St. Louis, MO market with the U.S. baseline and breaks projected pay down by experience, skills, industry, and nearby markets.

Official BLS baseline: 2024St. Louis, MO city pageModeled salary guide10 min read
City Average
$159K
per year
Entry Level
$84.7K
starting range
Senior Level
$184K
upper local band
Remote / Hybrid
$162K
modeled local premium
Monthly
$13.3K
avg before tax
Hourly Rate
$67
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline  ·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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Physician Assistant Salary Overview in St. Louis, MO

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Physician Assistant pay in St. Louis, MO at about $159,064 per year. On the latest official BLS baseline for this market, the lower local range starts near $74,670.0, while the strongest-paid professionals can reach about $169,980.

Salary estimates are based on data from the St. Louis, Mo-Il metropolitan area.

If you’re comparing Physician Assistant salaries in St. Louis, MO, the real story isn’t just the headline number. Local employer mix, seniority, specialization, and whether the role is remote, hybrid, or onsite can push compensation well above or below the local median.

St. Louis, MO vs. U.S. National Average

St. Louis, MO pays +19% vs u.s. for Physician Assistant roles. The difference is driven by local employer demand, industry mix, cost pressures, and how concentrated this role is in the underlying metro labor market.

United States National Average
$133K
all U.S. markets combined
+19%
St. Louis, MO Premium
St. Louis, MO City Average
$159K
Physician Assistant
MarketProjected Salaryvs St. Louis, MOMarket Maturity
St. Louis, MO (this guide)$159,064BaselineLocal market
United States$133,260-16% vs U.S.National baseline
Joplin, MO$152,550-4% vs U.S.Comparable city
Cape Girardeau, MO$135,820-15% vs U.S.Comparable city
Columbia, MO$130,790-18% vs U.S.Comparable city
Why St. Louis, MO pay differsThe strongest city salary premiums usually appear where employers compete for specialized talent, where the role is concentrated, and where local costs make compensation harder to hold down.

Physician Assistant Salary by Experience Level in St. Louis, MO

Experience changes the local salary picture quickly because employers usually pay for independence, specialization, and broader scope, not just years on paper. In St. Louis, MO, this breakdown shows how aPhysician Assistant can move from early-career pay into stronger bands as the role becomes more self-directed.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$132K
$76/hr median equivalent
$84.7K - $159K
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$159K
$76/hr median equivalent
$132K - $184K
Senior
6-10 years
$184K
$76/hr median equivalent
$159K - $193K
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$193K
$76/hr median equivalent
$184K - $235K
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeMarket Signal
Entry-Level Physician Assistant0-2 years$132,466$84,693.0 - $159,064Near national
Mid-Level Physician Assistant3-5 years$159,064$132,466 - $183,563+19% vs U.S.
Senior Physician Assistant6-10 years$183,563$159,064 - $192,796+38% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal Physician Assistant10+ years$192,796$183,563 - $235,211+45% vs U.S.
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Best Salary Areas Near St. Louis, MO

Nearby metro areas help show how Physician Assistant pay changes around St. Louis, MO. Each market reflects its own employer mix, local demand, and industry concentration, making these comparisons useful for candidates weighing their location options.

#1
St. Louis, MO
$159K
avg / year
Salary estimates are based on data from the St. Louis, Mo-Il metropolitan area.
This guide
#2
Joplin, MO
$153K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Physician Assistant salaries around St. Louis, MO.
-4% vs U.S.
#3
Cape Girardeau, MO
$136K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Physician Assistant salaries around St. Louis, MO.
-15% vs U.S.
#4
Columbia, MO
$131K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Physician Assistant salaries around St. Louis, MO.
-18% vs U.S.
#5
Kansas City, MO
$129K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Physician Assistant salaries around St. Louis, MO.
-19% vs U.S.

Physician Assistant Salary by Industry in St. Louis, MO

Industry premiums in St. Louis, MO usually come from employers that place the Physician Assistant role close to revenue, infrastructure, compliance, product delivery, or other high-value work. National industry data gives the best available benchmark until local industry slices are available.

IndustryModeled SalaryReference RangeSignal
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services$157,590$98,890.0 - $223,630Stronger salary
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$151,470$103,340 - $193,170Stronger salary
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$140,560$100,260 - $171,430Stronger salary
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$135,450$90,250.0 - $183,680Competitive
Finance and Insurance$134,840$118,560 - $165,070Competitive
Health Care and Social Assistance$132,820$94,990.0 - $180,830Competitive
Educational Services$127,900$63,740.0 - $167,840Competitive
Management of Companies and Enterprises$127,870$88,290.0 - $167,770Competitive

Entry-Level Physician Assistant Salary in St. Louis, MO

Entry-level Physician Assistant jobs in St. Louis, MO are modeled around the lower local wage percentiles. Candidates who can show practical projects, job-ready tools, and strong fundamentals usually have a better path into the middle of the local salary range.

For a broader starting-pay benchmark beyond this city market, see the entry-level Physician Assistant salary guide.

Entry estimateA reasonable entry-level salary benchmark for Physician Assistant roles in St. Louis, MO is about $132,466.
Preparation pathJob Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Typical education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Training signal: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Remote vs Onsite Physician Assistant Pay in St. Louis, MO

Remote work can widen the employer pool for Physician Assistant candidates in St. Louis, MO. Onsite and hybrid roles may still pay more when employers need local availability, local clients, regulated work, or team coverage.

Local Onsite Role
$159,064
avg local employer
Hybrid Role
$162,245
modeled local premium
+2% local avg
Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$155,883Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$162,245Metro dependentSt. Louis, MO employersMedium
Onsite$159,064Location dependentLocal teams and operationsLower

Cost of Living vs Salary in St. Louis, MO

A salary in St. Louis, MO should be read alongside housing, commuting, tax, and everyday costs. The same annual pay can feel very different at entry, mid-level, and senior levels.

Monthly Expense
Entry
Mid
Senior
Housing / rent
$2.1K
$2.9K
$3.7K
Transport / commute
$463.9
$530.2
$596.5
Food and groceries
$994.2
$1.1K
$1.2K
Utilities and internet
$463.9
$530.2
$596.5
Estimated remainder
$4.5K
$6.9K
$8.5K
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Top Employers Hiring Physician Assistants in St. Louis, MO

Employer mix is one of the biggest city-level salary drivers. The industries below highlight where Physician Assistant pay tends to be strongest in St. Louis, MO, based on the sectors that create the most hiring demand for this role.

1
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services employers
$158K
Industry benchmark for Physician Assistant roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
2
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service employers
$151K
Industry benchmark for Physician Assistant roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
3
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employers
$141K
Industry benchmark for Physician Assistant roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
4
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service employers
$135K
Industry benchmark for Physician Assistant roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
5
Finance and Insurance employers
$135K
Industry benchmark for Physician Assistant roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
6
Health Care and Social Assistance employers
$133K
Industry benchmark for Physician Assistant roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.

St. Louis, MO Compared With Other U.S. Cities

This comparison is useful when one city salary number is not enough on its own. It shows whetherSt. Louis, MO is genuinely a stronger-paying market for Physician Assistant work or whether the local benchmark sits closer to the broader national middle.

St. Louis, MO
This guide
$159K
Baseline
Joplin, MO
Nearby U.S. market
$153K
-4% vs U.S.
Cape Girardeau, MO
Nearby U.S. market
$136K
-15% vs U.S.
Columbia, MO
Nearby U.S. market
$131K
-18% vs U.S.
Kansas City, MO
Nearby U.S. market
$129K
-19% vs U.S.
Springfield, MO
Nearby U.S. market
$126K
-21% vs U.S.
Joplin, MO
Nearby U.S. market
$139K
-13% vs U.S.

Career Growth Opportunities in St. Louis, MO

Local career growth is strongest when it is read through both the city salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The city salary benchmark shows what this market currently pays, while the career path and BLS demand data show how that benchmark can expand with scope and responsibility.

1
Intern / Trainee
$77.3K - $104K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
2
Junior
$95.9K - $127K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$120K - $149K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
4
Senior
$144K - $187K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
5
Lead
$171K - $216K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$200K - $273K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
BLS Demand SignalEmployment is projected to change by 20.4% from 2024 to 2034.
Much faster than averageAnnual openings: 12 thousand.
Metric2026 Outlook
Projected employment162.7k → 195.8k
Typical educationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related experienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Local market anchor790 jobs with a median of $159,064

Factors Affecting Physician Assistant Salary in St. Louis, MO

Local pay rarely moves for one reason alone. In city markets, the biggest differences usually come from employer concentration, industry mix, seniority, and whether the role is tied to business-critical work that is harder to staff.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

How to Increase Your Physician Assistant Salary in St. Louis, MO

In city markets, salary growth often comes from better positioning as much as from patience. These moves are most useful when you already understand the local benchmark and want a clearer path beyond it.

1
Benchmark against stronger markets
Compare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.
1-3 months timeline
2
Build a visible specialization
Prioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning.
3-9 months timeline
3
Target higher-paying industries
Use industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.
2-6 months timeline
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Physician Assistant Salary in St. Louis, MO: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the city benchmark, the statewide picture, and the local experience ladder. They help clarify how to read the market and what matters most when you compare this city with other options.

These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "Physician Assistant" usually compare local pay, employer mix, and market differences in this city.

What is the average Physician Assistant in St. Louis, MOs salary?
The latest national baseline for Physician Assistants is about $133,300 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Physician Assistant in St. Louis, MOs salary?
Entry-level estimates for Physician Assistants are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $95,200 per year nationally.
How much can senior Physician Assistant in St. Louis, MOs professionals earn?
Senior Physician Assistants estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $160,200 per year nationally.
Does location affect Physician Assistant in St. Louis, MOs salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Physician Assistant in St. Louis, MOs salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
Data
Data Sources & MethodologyUpdated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Salary figures use BLS OEWS wage facts for 2024. City pages use the BLS metropolitan area as the salary dataset, display the largest city as the public page name, and model experience bands from local wage percentiles.
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