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MODELED MONTHLY SURPLUS

Top 20 cities for Physician Assistants

This ranking uses a modeled monthly surplus, not salary alone. It estimates take-home pay, housing, and local standard expenses so you can compare the same defined measure across cities.

Direct BLS match to SOC 29-1071 Physician Assistants.

What the modeled surplus includes

Modeled 2026 monthly surplus = modeled monthly take-home pay - estimated mortgage - fixed standard expenses ($2,200/month in every metro). It is a comparison model, not your personal cash-after-rent result.

#1

McAllen, TX

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,625
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$135,167
BEA 2024 RPP
85.9
Est. Mortgage
$813/mo
#2

San Antonio, TX

MSA Pop: 2.6M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,454
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$143,664
BEA 2024 RPP
94.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,468/mo
#3

Corpus Christi, TX

MSA Pop: 0.4M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,430
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$137,719
BEA 2024 RPP
92.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,153/mo
#4

Dayton, OH

MSA Pop: 0.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,329
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$141,860
BEA 2024 RPP
92.7
Est. Mortgage
$917/mo
#5

New Haven, CT

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,241
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$153,709
BEA 2024 RPP
104.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#6

Oklahoma City, OK

MSA Pop: 1.4M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,173
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$142,393
BEA 2024 RPP
90.4
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#7

Houston, TX

MSA Pop: 7.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,126
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$140,671
BEA 2024 RPP
98.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#8

Cleveland, OH

MSA Pop: 2.0M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,088
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$139,257
BEA 2024 RPP
93.9
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#9

Stockton, CA

MSA Pop: 0.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,034
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$166,163
BEA 2024 RPP
105.1
Est. Mortgage
$2,202/mo
#10

Fresno, CA

MSA Pop: 1.0M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,012
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$159,326
BEA 2024 RPP
102.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,887/mo
#11

Tulsa, OK

MSA Pop: 1.0M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$5,008
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$137,740
BEA 2024 RPP
89.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#12

St. Louis, MO

MSA Pop: 2.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,970
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$139,523
BEA 2024 RPP
95.1
Est. Mortgage
$1,153/mo
#13

Akron, OH

MSA Pop: 0.7M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,931
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$134,255
BEA 2024 RPP
93.4
Est. Mortgage
$917/mo
#14

Sarasota, FL

MSA Pop: 0.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,857
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$146,073
BEA 2024 RPP
102.4
Est. Mortgage
$2,202/mo
#15

Detroit, MI

MSA Pop: 4.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,796
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$135,126
BEA 2024 RPP
100.3
Est. Mortgage
$1,179/mo
#16

Memphis, TN

MSA Pop: 1.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,755
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$124,947
BEA 2024 RPP
92.2
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#17

Rochester, NY

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,751
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$133,691
BEA 2024 RPP
97.0
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#18

Indianapolis, IN

MSA Pop: 2.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,748
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$135,249
BEA 2024 RPP
95.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,363/mo
#19

Jacksonville, FL

MSA Pop: 1.5M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,736
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$135,659
BEA 2024 RPP
99.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,730/mo
#20

Columbus, OH

MSA Pop: 2.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,732
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$140,989
BEA 2024 RPP
95.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,468/mo