GS-0603 Physician Assistant — Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)
Federal Physician Assistant — GS-0603. The verified average salary for GS-0603 Physician Assistants is $169,039/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 3,376 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) • Records included: 3,376 • Redaction rate: 12.7%
GS-0603 Physician Assistant — Pay at a Glance
Salary and workforce snapshot from OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
The GS-0603 Physician Assistant series showed 3,376 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $169,039/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.
Salary = base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. REDACTED records (OPM data release policy) are excluded from averages. Pay plan: General Schedule (GS) / Title 38 (VA). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →
GS-0603 Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $169,039 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 3,376 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 3,376 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 12.7% | OPM redacts salary records for privacy-sensitive positions (DoD, law enforcement, intelligence). FedTools suppresses series averages when redaction exceeds 20%. |
| Pay plan(s) | General Schedule (GS) / Title 38 (VA) | Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government. |
| Typical grades | GS-12 to GS-14 (GS scale); VP-II to VP-III (VA Title 38) | Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency. |
| Locality pay | 17.06% – 46.34% | Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate x base pay = locality supplement. Included in the average salary above. |
| Pay cap (2026) | $197,200 | Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount. Title 38 and special pay plans may exceed this cap. |
Top Agencies Employing GS-0603 Physician Assistants
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
- →Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- →Department of Defense (DoD)
- →Indian Health Service (IHS / HHS)
Key Duties — GS-0603 Physician Assistant
Representative duties for the 0603 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
- →Primary care and outpatient clinical evaluation and treatment
- →Chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, PTSD, TBI)
- →Emergency medicine and urgent care (military treatment facilities)
- →Surgical assistance and post-operative care management
- →Telehealth and home-based primary care (VA HBPC)
About the GS-0603 Physician Assistant Series
Federal physician assistants (PAs) are licensed mid-level practitioners authorized to diagnose, treat, and prescribe under physician supervision. VA is the largest federal employer of PAs, deploying them across primary care, mental health, and specialty clinics to extend physician capacity. DoD employs PAs at military treatment facilities worldwide. All federal PAs must hold national certification (PA-C from NCCPA) and state licensure. The $169,039 average — the highest non-physician clinical series — reflects the advanced practice scope and Title 38 pay plan used by VA, which allows above-GS-cap compensation to recruit and retain mid-level practitioners. The 12.7% redaction is primarily DoD positions.
Calculate Your Exact GS-0603 Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
GS-0603 Physician Assistant — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a GS-0603 Physician Assistant?
The verified average salary for the GS-0603 Physician Assistant series is $169,039 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (3,376 non-redacted records; 12.7% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 0603 series?
The GS-0603 Physician Assistant series typically spans GS-12 to GS-14 (GS scale); VP-II to VP-III (VA Title 38). Actual grade assignment depends on the position description, agency, and your qualifications. Use our GS Pay Calculator to look up the exact salary for any grade, step, and locality.
Which agencies employ GS-0603 Physician Assistants?
The largest federal employers of GS-0603 Physician Assistants include: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), Indian Health Service (IHS / HHS). These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).
How is federal pay determined for GS-0603 positions?
Federal civilian pay for GS positions = Base Pay (by grade and step) × (1 + Locality Rate). The GS table has 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15) and 10 steps per grade. Locality adjustments range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% in San Jose–San Francisco. Note: Some Physician Assistant positions (especially at VA) use Title 38 or special pay plans that allow above-GS-cap compensation. Use our GS Pay Calculator for an instant result.
Do GS-0603 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?
Yes, most GS-0603 positions qualify for the full federal benefits package: FERS pension (1–1.1% × High-3 Salary × Years of Service), TSP with up to 5% agency match, FEHB health insurance (government pays ~70% of premium), FEGLI life insurance, and FEDVIP dental/vision. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator to estimate your retirement income.
Other Federal Job Series Pay Pages
Salary data and workforce details for every GS occupational series in our database.
Data Accuracy Notice (YMYL): Salary figures are from the OPM Federal Workforce Data portal (EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026). The annualized_adjusted_basic_pay field captures base pay + locality pay under all pay plans (GS, Title 38, special rates). REDACTED records are excluded per OPM data release policy. FedTools publishes series-specific averages only when the non-redacted sample is representative (redaction ≤ 20%, n ≥ 50). This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.