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. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 31 percent from 2019 to 2029.
This is an impressive 31% projected growth for the field, significantly faster than most other occupations.
If you are a certified physician assistant and want to evaluate the best place to practice, 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 medical facilities or hospitals. A physician assistant works under certified Physicians.
A physician assistant’s role primarily involves clinical duties such as diagnosing and treating illnesses, and they may assist in surgery.
PAs work alongside 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 what types of tasks come under the physician assistant, we have prepared a list of all the responsibilities a physician assistant does as a part of their duty.
Physician assistants work collaboratively with physicians to provide patient care. They are responsible for many activities within the hospital’s premises. Let’s find out their critical responsibilities!
- Check the patient’s health condition.
- Determine the diseases from the symptoms
- Creates unique treatment plans for patients
- Can order lab tests for the patients after physical examination
- Check 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 Salary Map
Physician Assistant Annual Median Salary
The median annual wage for physician assistants was $126,010 in 2022, according to the BLS. This is over double the median annual salary for other occupations, around $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 a physician assistant choose to work in. Physicians generally earn a significantly higher salary than physician assistants.
If we talk about the factors that could affect the income of physician assistants, then the area of the city where they are currently appointed plays a crucial role in deciding their salary.
Metropolitan cities have a high demand for such professionals. 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 $60.58.
2. Weekly Wages
A physician assistant’s weekly wage is $2,409
3. Monthly Wages
A physician assistant’s monthly wage is $9,636
Top 10 Highest Paying States for Physician Assistants
Now that you know the national annual average salary for physician assistants, let’s take a look at the top ten highest-paying states:
| STATE | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | US$ 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 $103,840 in 2013 to $125,610 in 2018.
Ten Lowest-Paying States for Physician Assistants
At the other end of the spectrum, we have listed the ten lowest-paying states regarding physician assistant salaries. These states pay almost $20,000 less than the national average.
Despite this, a physician assistant still earns a higher annual average salary in these states than in other professions.
Let’s take a quick look at the lowest-paying states for physician assistants to practice:
| STATES | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | US$ 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 states have the lowest average annual salaries for physician assistants in the US. With the lowest average annual salary, Mississippi has seen tremendous growth over the years.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physician assistants annual income had growth rate of 3% in the last 4 years:
| 2020 | $115,390 |
| 2021 | $118,851.70 |
| 2022 | $122,417.25 |
| 2023 | $126,089.77 |
Illinois had the second-best growth of annual average salary for physician assistants, with an increase of 33.6%. Hawaii comes third with a growth of 31.6% in the past five years.
Annual Average Salary of Physician Assistants in the US (by State)
Now that you’ve had a look at the highest and lowest-paying states for physician assistants let’s take a look at how much each state pays:
| STATE | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | US$ 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 helped you learn about the average physician assistant salary in the US.
The profession is one of the fastest-growing in the US as healthcare demands increase yearly.
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
Grants for Dental Assistant School
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