Average Physician Assistant Salary – Overview
Physician Assistants work in medical facilities and hospitals. It’s a good career option for those who are pursuing their studies in the medical field. The first question that comes to everyone’s mind is how much physician assistants make.
Physician assistants are ranked as one of the most in-demand professionals in the country. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for physician assistants is set to grow, with 37,000 vacancies by 2028.
This is an impressive 31% projected growth for the field, which is significantly faster than most other occupations.
If you are a certified physician assistant and want to evaluate the best place to practice, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we have listed the average physician assistant salary in the US.
You will also learn the highest paying states for a physician assistant profession in the US.
What is a Physician Assistant?
A Physician Assistant or PA is responsible for various tasks in the medical facilities or the hospital. A physician assistant is a person who works under certified Physicians.
A PA takes care of administrative tasks such as reviewing insurance information and medical record keeping and aids surgical procedures with the physician.
PA work along with the Physicians, unlike other medical professionals. They also provide treatments to patients on behalf of the physician when needed.
What are the Responsibilities of a Physician Assistant?
If you wonder about what types of tasks come under the physician assistant, then here we have prepared a list of all the responsibilities that a physician assistant does as a part of his duty.
Physician Assistants are the backbone of Physicians. They are responsible for many activities within the premises of the hospital. Let’s find out their key responsibilities of them!
- Checks the patient’s health condition
- Determine the diseases from the symptoms
- Creates special treatment plans for patients
- Can order lab tests for the patients after physical examination
- Checks the results of the lab test reports
- Helps the physician during the surgical procedures
- Can prescribe medicines on behalf of the physician
- Can advise patients about their diseases and help them know about preventative care
These were some activities done by the Physician Assistant under the certified Physician. You are here to know how much physician assistants make.
Physician Assistant Annual Median Salary
According to the BLS, the median annual salary in 2022 for physician assistants in the US is around US$ 126,010. This is more than double the median annual salary for other occupations, which is around US$ 51,960.
Physician Assistant Annual Median Salary
Salary of Physician Assistant as Per Specialization
The Highest Paying Specialization
- Outpatient Care Centers- $137,040
- Employment Services- $133,750
- Scientific Research- $130,400
- Local Government- $129,320
- Specialty Hospitals- $128,150
The Lowest Paying Specialization
- Obstetrics or Gynecology: $96,244
- Adolescent medicine: $90,588
- Pediatrics: $92,194
The average salaries listed above have a gap of over $32,000 as per the specialization they choose to work in. The salary of the physician is just a little higher than the physician assistant.
If we talk about the factors that could affect the income of physician assistants, then the area of the city in which they are currently appointed plays a crucial role in deciding his salary.
Metropolitan cities have a high demand for such professionals and for that reason, the average salary of physicians working in metropolitan is higher than those who work in small cities and towns.
Likewise, the average salary of physician assistants may vary from state to state. Different states have different payscale and for that reason, the average salary of the physician assistant could be different.
Let’s talk about the hourly, weekly, and monthly wages of physician assistants.
1. Hourly Wages
A physician assistant’s hourly wage is $60,23.
2. Weekly Wages
A physician assistant’s weekly wage is $2,409
3. Monthly Wages
A physician assistant’s monthly wage is $9,636
Top 10 Highest Paying States for Physician Assistants in 2023
Now that you know the national annual average salary for physician assistants, let’s take a look at the top ten highest-paying states:
| STATE | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | US$ 125,610 |
| Washington | US$ 123,980 |
| Alaska | US$ 122,260 |
| Hawaii | US$ 121,120 |
| California | US$ 117,230 |
| New York | US$ 117,000 |
| Wyoming | US$ 116,890 |
| Nevada | US$ 116,850 |
| New Jersey | US$ 116,270 |
| Minnesota | US$ 116,200 |
Overall, every state in the US has experienced double-digit growth in the percentage of average physician assistant salary between 2013 and 2018.
Connecticut, the highest-paying state for physician assistants, has seen a 21% growth in wages during the five-year duration.
The average annual salary of physician assistants in Connecticut increased from US$ 103,840 in 2013 to US$ 125,610 in 2018.
Ten Lowest-Paying States for Physician Assistants in 2023
At the other end of the spectrum, we have listed the ten lowest-paying states when it comes to physician assistant salaries. These states pay almost US$ 20,000 less than the national average.
Despite this, a physician assistant still earns a higher annual average salary in these states as compared to other professions.
Let’s take a quick look at the lowest-paying states for physician assistants to practice in 2023:
| STATES | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | US$ 81,130 |
| Louisiana | US$ 85,990 |
| Tennessee | US$ 87,700 |
| Kentucky | US$ 91,010 |
| Alabama | US$ 92,880 |
| Missouri | US$ 94,480 |
| Indiana | US$ 96,090 |
| Pennsylvania | US$ 98,510 |
| Arkansas | US$ 99,280 |
| Virginia | US$ 99,340 |
These are the states with the lowest average annual salaries for physician assistants in the US in 2023. Mississippi, with the lowest average annual salary, has still seen tremendous growth over the years.
Between 2013 and 2018, the median annual salary for physician assistants rose from US$ 49,930 to US$ 81,130, showing an impressive 62.5% growth in five years.
Illinois had the second-best growth of annual average salary for physician assistants, with an increase of 33.6%. Hawaii comes third with a growth of 31.6% in the past five years.
State-wise Annual Average Salary of Physician Assistants in the US
Now that you’ve had a look at the highest and lowest-paying states for physician assistants, let’s take a look at how much each state pays:
| STATE | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | US$ 125,610 |
| Washington | US$ 123,980 |
| Alaska | US$ 122,260 |
| Hawaii | US$ 121,120 |
| California | US$ 117,230 |
| New York | US$ 117,000 |
| Wyoming | US$ 116,890 |
| Nevada | US$ 116,850 |
| New Jersey | US$ 116,270 |
| Minnesota | US$ 116,200 |
| Oregon | US$ 113,570 |
| New Hampshire | US$ 111,080 |
| Iowa | US$ 110,550 |
| Michigan | US$ 110,240 |
| Maine | US$ 110,030 |
| Texas | US$ 109,590 |
| Idaho | US$ 109,090 |
| Massachusetts | US$ 108,700 |
| New Mexico | US$ 108,610 |
| Illinois | US$ 108,260 |
| Maryland | US$ 108,180 |
| Wisconsin | US$ 107,920 |
| North Dakota | US$ 107,340 |
| Nebraska | US$ 106,700 |
| Vermont | US$ 106,520 |
| Montana | US$ 106,130 |
| Florida | US$ 105,930 |
| Ohio | US$ 105,410 |
| Delaware | US$ 105,300 |
| Kansas | US$ 104,720 |
| North Carolina | US$ 104,680 |
| Oklahoma | US$ 104,200 |
| West Virginia | US$ 104,180 |
| Rhode Island | US$ 103,710 |
| South Carolina | US$ 103,710 |
| Georgia | US$ 103,190 |
| South Dakota | US$ 102,830 |
| Colorado | US$ 102,770 |
| Utah | US$ 102,710 |
| Arizona | US$ 101,590 |
| Virginia | US$ 99,340 |
| Arkansas | US$ 99,280 |
| Pennsylvania | US$ 98,510 |
| Indiana | US$ 96,090 |
| Missouri | US$ 94,480 |
| Alabama | US$ 92,880 |
| Kentucky | US$ 91,010 |
| Tennessee | US$ 87,700 |
| Louisiana | US$ 85,990 |
| Mississippi | US$ 81,130 |
Conclusion
We hope this article was helpful in learning about the average physician assistant salary in the US.
The profession is one of the fastest-growing ones in the US as healthcare demands increase every year.
Even the lowest-paying average salary for physician assistants in the US is significantly higher than other occupations.
See Also
How to Become a Physician Assistant?
Difference Between Medical Assistant and Physician Assistant
Non Clinical Physician Assistant Jobs
Grants for Dental Assistant School
How to Become a Dermatologist Assistant?
What Does a Physician Assistant Do?
Medical Billing and Coding Salary
What is Residency for Doctors?
Grants for Dental Assistant School
I am a dedicated healthcare researcher and an enthusiast specializing in medical grants, medical education and research. Through my articles, I aim to empower healthcare professionals and researchers with valuable insights and resources to navigate these critical aspects effectively.
Having sharpened her skills as a validation manager in the fast-paced world of Cybersecurity over a decade, Andrea now applies her expertise to raise the standards of the fact-checking space. As a meticulous fact-checker, she diligently validates the claims presented in our articles, leaving no room for misinformation or ambiguity.
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