Ohio's average physician assistant salary of $136,560 places it in the middle of the regional peer group. Indiana pays more at $144,260, while Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky all come in lower. If you are competing for candidates who have offers from Indiana employers, expect to close that gap or offset it with other elements of your compensation package.
Physician assistant salary in Ohio (2026)
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The average physician assistant salary in Ohio is $136,560 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $132,090 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Ohio employs 4,900 physician assistants, and the $4,470 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior physician assistants in Ohio typically earn around $96,460, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $210,350 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a physician assistant hire in Ohio, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $132,090 |
Average Annual Salary | $136,560 |
vs. National Average | 3.3% below the national mean of $141,280 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 4,900 employed physician assistants across Ohio.
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Setting an offer below $109,780 will put you outside the range most experienced candidates in Ohio will consider, while roles requiring specialized clinical experience will likely need to reach toward $150,000 or beyond. The wide spread from the 25th to the 90th percentile, $109,780 to $210,350, signals that specialty, setting, and years of experience drive meaningful pay differences across this workforce.
Physician assistant salary by city in Ohio
City | Average Annual Salary |
Columbus | $150,880 |
Toledo | $129,850 |
Cincinnati | $122,750 |
Employers hiring in Columbus should budget noticeably more than those hiring in Cincinnati or Toledo, since location alone accounts for a meaningful difference in compensation expectations. Columbus averages $150,880 compared to $122,750 in Cincinnati, a gap of $28,130 that can affect offer competitiveness if you benchmark against the statewide average rather than the local market. Use city-level figures to anchor your offer when the role is tied to a specific metro.
How Ohio compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Ohio | $136,560 | $132,090 |
Indiana | $144,260 | $132,050 |
Michigan | $132,140 | $131,510 |
Illinois | $131,880 | $131,950 |
Pennsylvania | $125,160 | $127,070 |
Kentucky | $119,990 | $120,760 |
Ohio sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a reasonable place to hire without facing the premium compensation pressure seen in Indiana. Ohio's average of $136,560 trails Indiana's $144,260 but runs ahead of Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, so your offers should be competitive across most neighboring states. Median pay across the region clusters tightly between $120,760 and $132,090, which means candidate expectations at the midpoint are broadly similar regardless of which state you are hiring in.
Frequently asked questions about physician assistant salary in Ohio
How does Ohio compare to other states for physician assistant salary?
What is the average physician assistant salary in Ohio?
The average physician assistant salary in Ohio is $136,560 per year, though the median of $132,090 is the more practical benchmark for most hiring decisions. The gap between the two figures reflects a segment of higher-compensated roles pulling the average upward. For budgeting purposes, start with the median and adjust based on the seniority and specialty of the role you are filling.
Physician Assistant salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1071 (Physician Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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