Working as a physician assistant may bring in not just a good break in the health care industry; people in this job position are also inclined to receive better salaries than other health care workers, and this can be attributed to various factors. Physician assistants cover almost the same duties as licensed doctors, they are consistently in demand in various health care facilities, and in essence, they have specialized duties other health care workers would not be able to attend to.
The exact salary that you might make as a physician assistant is going to vary according to a number of factors. The variables that go into deciding what you could make as a PA are not that confusing. We are going to take a quick look at the best way to get a guess of what you might expect to make as a physician assistant. When you weigh what it takes to become a physician assistant against what you can achieve with the career, you are going to see that beyond a monetary figure, there are many benefits to being a physician assistant.
Depending on a number of factors that we will go into more below, a physician assistant can expect to earn anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000 per year. There may be instances where you make less – or more – than these figures, but according to Indeed.com, they are accurate numbers.
Other Factors to Consider
Specialization – The more specialized knowledge you have – with HIV/AIDS for example – the more in demand you are going to be and the more you can ask for when getting a job. At some levels of expertise, you can basically write your own paycheck as corporations and organizations fight for your skills.
Geography – Physician assistants working in rural areas may not make as much as those working in large urban areas where the cost of living is higher. Geography is going to play a big role in how much you can end up making as a physician assistant. That’s not to say that you will never land a great paying job in a non-urban setting. It is something you should take into consideration, however.
As you can see, there is quite a bit to consider when you are wondering what you might make as a physician assistant. From where in the country you decide to work to how much experience and specialization you have, there are many things that will have an effect on how much you make. Having said that, even the lowest paid physician assistant is doing “pretty well” by most standards.
Earnings
Physician assistants earn an average annual salary of $81,230 as of May 2008, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median percentage of currently employed physician assistants earn between $68,210 and $97,070, while the lower 10% of people working in this position receive an estimated $51,360. The higher 10% on the other hand may receive up to $110,240 per year.
The median annual salaries of physician assistants working in different establishments are as follows:
- Hospitals : $84,550
- Outpatient clinics and centers: $84,390
- Physician clinics and offices: $80,440
- Government offices: $78,200
- Educational institutions: $74,200
Earnings also vary depending on the number of hours rendered by the physician assistant. Based on the findings of the American Academy of Physician Assistants in their 2008 Census Report, full-time physician assistants earn an annual salary of $85,710.
Entry-level physician assistants may also receive up to $74,470, depending on the factors mentioned above.
Aside from earnings, employed physician assistants are also entitled to get paid for professional liability insurance, state licensing feels, registration fees with the Drug Enforcement Administration, and credential fees.
According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ 2008 Census Report, median income for physician assistants in full-time clinical practice was $85,710 in 2008; median income for first-year graduates was $74,470. Income varies by specialty, practice setting, geographical location, and years of experience. Employers often pay for their employees’ professional liability insurance, registration fees with the Drug Enforcement Administration, State licensing fees, and credentialing fees.
Physician assistants, like other currently employed individuals, are entitled to leave credits which can be used for recovery from sickness or vacation. They may also opt for early retirement by the age of 50, although most physician assistants tend to stay in their position until the age of 65 due to the bigger benefits they may receive once they choose to retire. Special cash bonuses are also given by employers depending on their policies or employee performance.
Job Outlook
There is a steady, rapid increase of demand for physician assistants for the past ten years, and this demand is expected to rise for the next eight years. This is due to the continuous establishment of health care facilities in rural and inner-city locations.
By 2018, job opportunities for physician assistants are expected to have grown by 39% from that of 2008. Persons in this occupation are needed not only in health care facilities, but as well as in government offices, the military, prisons, and academic institutions.