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.