Physician Assistant Salary in Denver, CO — Is Your Pay Fair?
Wondering what a physician assistant role should pay in Denver, CO? Compensation for a physician assistant here typically runs low- to mid-six figures depending on specialty, with total comp shifting based on seniority, team, and equity mix. Denver, CO is a major metro where pay generally runs above national averages, reflecting a competitive talent market and elevated cost of living, which means national salary averages often under- or over-sell what a fair Denver, CO offer really looks like. Paste your current or target compensation below and SalaryCheck will benchmark it against live Denver, CO market data for physician assistant roles, flag where you're leaving money on the table, and hand you a specific ask plus a negotiation script in about 30 seconds.
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Typical physician assistant salary range in Denver, CO
Nationally, pay for physician assistant roles typically runs low- to mid-six figures depending on specialty. Because Denver, CO is a major metro where pay generally runs above national averages, reflecting a competitive talent market and elevated cost of living, expect offers to land a touch above the national band — typically 5–15% above median — with bonus and equity depending on company stage. Ranges are directional — your actual offer depends on company, level, and total-comp structure. Treat these as aggregated industry benchmarks, not a single-source quote.
Ranges are directional; your actual offer depends on company, level, and total comp structure. Figures reflect aggregated industry benchmarks, not a single-source quote.
What most physician assistants in Denver, CO get wrong about their comp
These are the most common ways physician assistant offers diverge from headline numbers. They're not universal — but each one has cost real physician assistants real money at Denver, CO employers.
- 1Specialty matters more than title — surgical PA vs primary-care PA can differ 30%+.
- 2Call pay is often separate from base; confirm structure.
- 3CME and license reimbursements are negotiable.
- 4Locum rates vs staff rates can differ 40%+; factor benefits before comparing.
Key terms to know before you negotiate
Three terms that come up repeatedly in physician assistant offer conversations in Denver, CO. Knowing these is the difference between accepting a headline number and negotiating the structure underneath it.
- Base Salary →
Base salary is the fixed annual cash compensation you earn from your job, before bonuses, equity, or benefits.
- Sign-on Bonus →
A sign-on bonus is a one-time payment given when you join a company, usually to offset unvested equity you left behind or to close an offer gap.
- Variable Pay →
Variable pay is compensation tied to performance — bonuses, commissions, or performance-based equity — rather than guaranteed base salary.
How fair is a physician assistant offer in Denver, CO?
There's no single right number — physician assistant pay in Denver, CO varies by company stage, specialization, seniority band, and equity grant. What matters is whether your specific comp package lines up with what other Denver, CO employers are paying for comparable work right now. SalaryCheck compares base, bonus, and equity against current Denver, CO market data and tells you exactly where you sit — so you walk into your next conversation with numbers, not a hunch.