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Physician Assistant Salary | How Much Money Does a Physician Assistant Make?

How much money does a physician assistant make? What does a physician assistant do on the job? What are the requirements to become a physician assistant? In this article, you’ll be able to view physician assistant salary information for all 50 states. In addition, you’ll learn exactly what it is that a physician assistant does on the job.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 38 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. This means that there will be opportunities for many individuals to enter this profession in the future.

What Physician Assistants Do:

Physician assistants, also known as PAs, practice medicine on a team under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. They are formally educated to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses, and provide treatment.

Specifically, physician assistants do the following tasks:

  • Review patients’ medical histories
  • Conduct physical exams to check patients’ health
  • Order and interpret diagnostic tests, such as x rays or blood tests
  • Make diagnoses concerning a patient’s injury or illness
  • Give treatment, such as setting broken bones and immunizing patients
  • Educate and counsel patients and their families—for example, answering questions about how to care for a child with asthma
  • Prescribe medicine when needed
  • Record a patient’s progress
  • Research the latest treatments to ensure the quality of patient care
  • Conduct or participate in outreach programs; talking to groups about managing diseases and promoting wellness

Physician Assistant Education Requirements

Physician assistants must first earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Next, students must earn a master’s degree from an accredited educational program. Earning the master’s degree usually takes about 2-3 years of full-time postgraduate study. After completing the necessary education requirements, individuals will then take a state examination to become licensed.

Interestingly, many physician assistants began their career as registered nurses (or as EMTs and paramedics) before going back to school to become a physician assistant.

Physician Assistant Salary Data

As the table below indicates, the average salary and hourly wage in the United States (as of 2014) was $46.77 per hour, or $97,280 per year.

Employment Employment RSE Mean hourly wage Mean annual wage Wage RSE
91,670 1.6 % $46.77 $97,280 0.5 %

Here are some percentile salary and wage figure:

Percentile 10% 25% 50% (Median) 75% 90%
Hourly Wage $30.82 $39.47 $46.07 $55.18 $64.77
Annual Wage $64,100 $82,090 $95,820 $114,760 $134,720

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Offices of Physicians 53,280 2.17 $46.77 $97,270
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 19,810 0.38 $47.51 $98,830
Outpatient Care Centers 6,520 0.93 $48.84 $101,600
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 2,330 0.08 $44.00 $91,530
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 2,290 0.12 $41.08 $85,450

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 40 n/a $65.55 $136,340
Home Health Care Services 90 0.01 $55.87 $116,220
Employment Services n/a n/a $51.31 $106,730
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals 790 0.32 $49.47 $102,910
Outpatient Care Centers 6,520 0.93 $48.84 $101,600

Top paying states for this occupation:

State Employment Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Nevada 750 0.63 0.93 $54.19 $112,700
Rhode Island 250 0.54 0.80 $53.45 $111,180
New Hampshire 530 0.84 1.24 $52.77 $109,760
Washington 1,990 0.69 1.01 $51.63 $107,390
Texas 5,360 0.48 0.70 $51.63 $107,390

Lowest paying states for physician assistants:

Arkansas 36.40 75,700
Louisiana 39.08 81,290
South Carolina 40.55 84,350

Physician Assistant Salaries for all 50 States:

State: Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (salary) Annual median wage
Alabama 43.22 89,890 92,530
Alaska 51.00 106,080 103,830
Arizona 47.35 98,480 97,390
Arkansas 36.40 75,700 81,260
California 49.43 102,800 104,950
Colorado 44.74 93,070 92,160
Connecticut 51.33 106,760 106,970
Delaware 50.58 105,210 102,280
District of Columbia 44.50 92,550 96,430
Florida 46.98 97,710 94,940
Georgia 45.63 94,910 93,640
Hawaii 43.69 90,880 93,130
Idaho 45.76 95,180 91,330
Illinois 40.28 83,770 87,040
Indiana 46.12 95,940 90,760
Iowa 44.23 92,000 92,170
Kansas 45.47 94,580 91,290
Kentucky 46.28 96,260 92,580
Louisiana 39.08 81,290 82,160
Maine 48.13 100,110 99,750
Maryland 40.65 84,550 88,800
Massachusetts 49.18 102,290 101,040
Michigan 46.01 95,690 94,470
Minnesota 49.95 103,890 102,690
Mississippi 23.99 49,900 37,810
Missouri 45.70 95,060 95,570
Montana 45.94 95,550 94,060
Nebraska 43.77 91,040 90,340
Nevada 54.19 112,700 94,680
New Hampshire 52.77 109,760 104,540
New Jersey 49.88 103,740 102,370
New Mexico 48.62 101,130 93,390
New York 48.22 100,290 99,590
North Carolina 45.76 95,190 93,390
North Dakota 46.16 96,010 93,430
Ohio 48.71 101,310 97,800
Oklahoma 46.54 96,810 97,870
Oregon 50.48 104,990 101,970
Pennsylvania 41.84 87,020 87,220
Puerto Rico 20.96 43,600 43,470
Rhode Island 53.45 111,180 108,880
South Carolina 40.55 84,350 85,710
South Dakota 44.69 92,960 91,790
Tennessee 43.34 90,150 88,850
Texas 51.63 107,390 103,620
Utah 44.52 92,600 90,070
Vermont 51.47 107,050 100,860
Virginia 41.61 86,550 87,920
Washington 51.63 107,390 106,090
West Virginia 42.19 87,750 88,010
Wisconsin 44.38 92,300 92,000
Wyoming 46.10 95,880 94,010

References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at bls.gov.

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