Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Physician Assistants
Physician Assistants provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
Table of contents
What they do
Physician Assistants provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
- Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
- Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about the management and treatment of patients.
- Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiograms, and laboratory tests.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Physician Assistants examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition. They make tentative diagnoses and decisions about the management and treatment of patients.
A typical day for a Physician Assistant will also include:
- Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
- Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiograms, and laboratory tests.
- Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Physician Assistants also order medical and laboratory supplies and equipment. They may also provide physicians with assistance during surgery or complicated medical procedures.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Physician Assistants perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management. They might also visit and observe patients on hospital rounds or house calls, updating charts, ordering therapy, and reporting back to physicians.
In addition, they interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them supervise and coordinate the activities of technicians and technical assistants.
To some Physician Assistants, it is also their responsibility to prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
78% said they were satisfied with their job and 83% said they found their job meaningful.
I have been a physician assistant for over a decade. I’ve worked on the inpatient hospital units, in the outpatient clinics, and in the operating room. I also hold administrative responsibilities.
Inpatient hospital unit work involves meeting with your team in the morning. A team includes doctors, residents, other learners such as medical students. The team will round on every patient, perform a physical examination, and update the patient on their plan for the day. Then, PA then places all of the orders and writes all of the progress notes for the day. They also meet with multidisciplinary teams of nurses, social workers, pharmacists, physical therapists, and more, who are also involved in patients’ plans of care. Throughout the day they tackle acute patient care issues (for example, a patient with acute elevation in blood pressure, or confusion), review and interpret testing and labs that were ordered, coordinate patient discharge, and perform patient education. The coordination of discharge is complex and can be time-consuming.
In the clinic, the PA will review your list of patients for the day. They will perform a complete history and physical on new patients who come in with a complaint, formulate a differential diagnosis, and come up with a treatment plan. They will also see and manage follow-up patients with chronic conditions. They write notes on all patients, and coordinate peri-clinic items such as outstanding labs and tests, triaging and managing patient phone calls, prescribing medications, and completing paperwork.
In the operating room, a PA will obtain patient consent forms, help set up the operating room, and prep the patient for surgery. As a physician assistant, one will scrub in to assist the surgeon with the case. Following the case, they will write a post-op note and orders, and transport the patient to their next destination.
Pros
- Working alongside a team of people who have a common goal – take quality and safe care of patients
- Partnering with patients along their journey to health, establishing rapport and trust
- The hustle and bustle keep things interesting from day to day and lifelong learning – you’ll never get bored!
Cons
- The hustle and bustle can be mentally and physically draining
- Emotional strain when patients do not have good outcomes
- At the mercy of state and national regulations which sometimes feel prohibitive to patient care
Pros
Suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the fastest-growing careers.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Physician Assistants with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $76,700 to $95,730 per year or $37 to $46 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $162,470 | $78 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $135,220 | $65 |
| Median | $115,390 | $55 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $95,730 | $46 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $76,700 | $37 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Physician Assistants based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Care Services | $144260 | $69.35 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $128820 | $61.93 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $124400 | $59.81 |
| Employment Services | $120400 | $57.89 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $119970 | $57.68 |
| Individual and Family Services | $118790 | $57.11 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $117320 | $56.40 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $116710 | $56.11 |
| State Government | $115410 | $55.49 |
| Offices of Physicians | $115120 | $55.34 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Physician Assistants work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Physician Assistants including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | 67870 | $115120 | $55.34 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 30860 | $117320 | $56.40 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 10190 | $128820 | $61.93 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 4930 | $108010 | $51.93 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 2070 | $111140 | $53.43 |
| Specialty Hospitals | 1630 | $114600 | $55.10 |
| Employment Services | 1540 | $120400 | $57.89 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 1390 | $105930 | $50.93 |
| Local Government | 960 | $113420 | $54.53 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 640 | $96880 | $46.58 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Neurosurgery Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Hepatobiliary Surgery Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Hematology-Oncology Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Geriatrics Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Family Medicine Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
ENT Surgery Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Critical Care and Trauma Surgery Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Critical Care Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Cardiology Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Transplant Surgery Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Pediatric Surgery Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Orthopedic Surgery Physician Assistant Residency/Fellowship Program
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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