Careers

Physician Assistant as a Career

Physician Assistant as a Career

The Role of the Physician Assistant (PA)

Physician Associates (PAs) are nationally certified and state-licensed medical professionals who practice medicine in every specialty and clinical setting across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. For more than 60 years, PAs have played a vital role in American healthcare. Educated at the graduate level, PAs are trained as medical generalists who can diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. A hallmark of the profession is flexibility—PAs may change specialties without additional formal education or training, allowing them to adapt to evolving healthcare needs. (AAPA Salary Report, 2025)

Physician Assistant as a Profession

PAs practice in team-based medical environments alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals. Their work enhances patient access, quality, and continuity of care. The profession continues to be ranked among the top three careers in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for 2025, reflecting both its strong employment outlook and professional satisfaction. (AAPA Salary Report, 2025)

The Physician Assistant Career by the Numbers

Top Practice Areas (2024 data)

• Family Medicine – 16.4%
• Orthopaedic Surgery – 11.5%
• Emergency Medicine – 7.8%
• Urgent Care – 4.6%
• General Internal Medicine – 4.6%
• Dermatology – 4.2%
• Hospital Medicine – 3.4%
• General Surgery – 3.1%
• Pediatrics – 1.7%
• Psychiatry – 1.3%

Together, these specialties represent more than 75% of the national PA workforce. (Source: 2025 AAPA Salary Report)

Salary

The median total compensation for full-time PAs in 2024 was $134,000, a 5.5% increase from 2023.

• Median base salary: $130,000
• Median hourly wage: $75.00
• Median productivity-based compensation: $175,000
• Median annual bonus: $7,500

PAs employed in hospitals reported the highest median compensation ($140,000), with critical access hospital PAs earning approximately $149,880, followed by emergency medicine ($145,600). PAs in primary care reported a median of $125,850. (Source: 2025 AAPA Salary Report)

The Job Outlook

Employment of physician assistants continues to grow rapidly, driven by physician shortages and increased demand for team-based, cost-effective care. The PA profession remains among the fastest-growing healthcare roles, with continued expansion in both urban and rural areas, and nearly half of all PAs now incorporating telehealth into their practice. (Source: 2025 AAPA Salary Report)

For more information about the physician assistant career, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site.

External Resources

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA)