Physician Assistants
Overview
Introduction
Physician assistants (PAs) practice medicine under the supervision of licensed doctors of medicine or osteopathy, providing various health care services to patients. Much of the work they do was formerly limited to physicians. There are approximately 153,400 physician assistants employed in the United States. Physician assistants may be known by other occupational titles such as physician associates, child health associates, MEDEX, physician associates, anesthesiologists assistants, or
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salaries of physician assistants (PAs) vary according to their level of experience, specialty, and employer. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that PAs earned median annual salaries of $130,020 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent earned $86,280 or less and the highest paid 10 percent earned $170,790 or more per year. Half of PAs earned between $108,100 and $151,720. PAs are well compensated c...
Work Environment
Most work settings are comfortable and clean. Like physicians, PAs spend a good part of their day standing or walking. The workweek varies according to the employment setting. A few emergency room PAs may work 24-hour shifts, twice a week; others work 12-hour shifts, three times a week. PAs who work in physicians offices, hospitals, or clinics may have to work weekends, nights, and holidays. PA...
Outlook
Employment for physician assistants, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), is expected to increase by 28 percent (much faster than the average) from 2023 through 2033. In fact, the career of physician assistant ranks in the top 10 fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. through 2033. The health care industry is continuing to use more physician assistants to reduce costs. The aging po...