Respiratory Therapist
Median wage · national
$82,280
Range: $75K – $99K
Employed
140K
Openings/yr
9K
Typically: associate's degree
HEALTH
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistant is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, projected to grow +20.4% through 2034. Median pay sits at $135,880 nationally, a strong return for the training investment.
About Physician Assistant
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.
- Median Wage
- $135,880
- Employed Nationally
- 162K
- Openings / Year
- 12,000
- Entry Education
- Master's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Advanced Practice Provider (AAP)
Anesthetic Assistant
Cardiology Physician Assistant
Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)
Certified Physician's Assistant (PA-C)
How Much Do Physician Assistants Make?
Physician Assistant earn $135,880 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $120,670 and $163,980. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$135,880
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$121K–$164K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$120,670
Entry-level
$135,880
Median
$163,980
Experienced
What Do Physician Assistants Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Physician Assistant roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
- Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
- Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Social Perceptiveness
Active Listening
Writing
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Where Do Physician Assistants Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Physician Assistants?
The BLS projects +20.4% employment change for Physician Assistant through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 12,000 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +20.4%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Much faster than average.
12,000
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
162K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Physician Assistant professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $135,880 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 19,390 | $152,650 | +12.3% |
| 2 | California | 13,570 | $161,080 | +18.5% |
| 3 | Florida | 10,570 | $127,200 | -6.4% |
| 4 | Texas | 10,030 | $132,810 | -2.3% |
| 5 | North Carolina | 8,520 | $128,540 | -5.4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Physician Assistant positions require a master's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Master's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allied Health Diagnostic | 85,413 | $70,786 | 1,768 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Physician Assistants
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
| 3 | North Florida College Madison, FL | 91 | $804 | $33,929 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 6 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | 90 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Physician Assistant, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Physician Assistant pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Physician Assistant Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Physician Assistant a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $135,880 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Exceptional job growth The BLS projects +20.4% employment growth through 2034, one of the fastest rates across all occupations. Demand for qualified candidates should remain elevated for a decade.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $163,980 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- High education requirement Most employers require a master's degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Physician Assistant Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Physician Assistant professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Physician Assistant is $135,880, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $120,670 and $163,980. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Physician Assistant a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $135,880 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +20.4% through 2034 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to become a Physician Assistant?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A master's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Allied Health Diagnostic are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $135,880 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a master's degree worth it to become a Physician Assistant?
Yes, for most programs. At $135,880 median, graduates at in-state public programs typically recoup their investment within 10 to 15 years of practice. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
How fast is the Physician Assistant field growing?
Very fast. The BLS projects +20.4% growth for Physician Assistant through 2034, well above the roughly 5% national average and among the fastest rates across all occupations. Demand is being driven by structural forces, not cyclical ones. About 12,000 job openings per year are expected as the field expands and existing workers move on. From a current base of 162K workers, sustained growth creates real hiring volume, though fast-growing fields also attract more new graduates competing for entry-level roles.
What skills do Physician Assistant professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Physician Assistant roles: Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, and Writing. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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