Amid Doctor Shortage, Physician Assistant Pay Hits $130,000
Physician assistants are increasing in number and so is their pay, eclipsing $130,000 a year, according to new data from two groups.
The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) said total median compensation 'across all earning types' rose 5.5% to $134,000 compared to $127,000 in in 2023 for physician assistants (PAs), also known as physician associates. As an hourly wage, the median pay has increased to $75 per hour, up from $70 in the previous year, AAPA said.
The analysis is similar to a new report out this week from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), which said the 'mean income for PAs increased to $129,291 in 2024, up 12% from 2020.'
NCCPA's report also said numbers of PAs are on the rise, increasing more than 6% to 189,907 as of the end of last year and up 27.8% over the last five years,
The increasing numbers of PAs and the improving pay come amid a primary care shortage that is triggering states across the country to expand the scope of practice for healthcare professionals like PAs, nurse practitioners and pharmacists. Increasingly, states are allowing PAs to do more whether it be prescribing more medications and diagnosing certain illnesses to having more direct supervision of patients.
'There are now 56 PAs per 100,000 population in the U.S., compared to 45 in 2020,' said NCCPA President and CEO Dawn Morton-Rias. 'This continued growth reflects the increasing demand for PAs across various health care specialties. PAs play an indispensable role as patient care continues to rapidly evolve.'
A physician assistant is nationally certified by the commission and must be licensed in the states where they practice. Most have a three-year master's degree, often from a program that runs about 27 months or three academic years, according to years and includes three years of healthcare training, according to the American Academy of Physician Associates. They work in doctor's offices, hospitals, surgery centers and other locations and their work includes diagnosing illnesses, writing prescriptions and counseling patients on preventive care.
'While primary care has long been a cornerstone of the PA profession, the latest data shows a slight shift in specialty distribution,' NCCPA said in a statement accompanying its report. 'Surgical subspecialties now account for the largest proportion of PAs (18.5%), closely followed by family medicine/general practice (16.3%). The overall representation in primary care saw a proportional decrease of 2.4% to 22% in 2024, a drop from 24.4% in 2020.'
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