Profession · Full profile

Physician Assistant

Examine patients, prescribe medication, order diagnostic tests, and manage clinical care plans.

Average salary

$135,880

Salary range

$99,380 – $190,280

Training time

About 2 to 3 years

Job market

Much faster than average

9/10

Work-life balance

Good

7/10

Physician assistants examine patients, take medical histories, and diagnose illnesses and injuries. They order and interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and X-rays to establish treatment plans. In daily practice, physician assistants prescribe medication and perform clinical procedures like suturing or joint injections. Depending on their clinical setting, they assist in surgery, care for patients before and after operations, and coordinate care with physicians. They also educate patients directly about their ongoing medical conditions.

A workday

A day in the life

What does a workday really look like?

A scheduled daytime shift in an outpatient clinic managing routine and urgent patient visits.

8:00 AM
Morning chart review
Review lab results and imaging for scheduled clinic patients.
8:30 AM
Patient physical examinations
Examine morning appointments and take medical histories.
11:30 AM
Minor clinical procedures
Perform joint injections and wound suturing.
12:30 PM
Lunch break and chart updates
Update electronic health records between patient visits.
1:15 PM
Afternoon clinical consultations
Diagnose acute illnesses and develop patient treatment plans.
3:30 PM
Prescriptions and diagnostic orders
Prescribe medications and order outpatient diagnostic tests.
4:30 PM
Physician collaboration
Coordinate complex patient care plans with collaborating physicians.

Task breakdown

An inpatient surgical day balancing operating room assistance and floor management.

6:30 AM
Inpatient morning rounds
Examine post-operative patients and review vital signs.
7:30 AM
Surgical team briefing
Meet with attending surgeons to review the scheduled surgical cases.
8:00 AM
Operating room assistance
Assist the surgeon during procedures and close surgical incisions.
12:00 PM
Post-operative patient evaluations
Manage recovery orders and examine patients in the surgical ward.
1:00 PM
Documentation and lunch
Record surgical notes and progress updates in electronic health records.
2:00 PM
New admission workups
Take medical histories and perform physical exams for hospital admissions.
4:30 PM
Evening clinical handoff
Review overnight patient care plans with the incoming medical team.

Salary data

What do you really earn?

Salary by experience, sector and region.

Minimum

$99,380

Average

$135,880

Maximum

$190,280

Salary by region

Region	Min	Avg.	Max
National	$99,380	$135,880	$190,280
New York	$106,440	$160,880	$201,410
California	$99,380	$165,650	$225,190
Texas	$102,650	$134,550	$169,000
Florida	$98,530	$129,620	$181,610
Pennsylvania	$99,050	$127,070	$158,690

Typical benefits

Health insurance

Comprehensive medical insurance coverage provided by healthcare employers.

Retirement plan

Employer-sponsored retirement plans to support long-term financial security.

Malpractice insurance coverage

Employer-paid professional malpractice insurance protecting medical practice.

Continuing medical education allowance

Dedicated funding to cover ongoing medical education courses and certifications.

Pathways

Education pathways

Which paths lead to this profession?

Bachelor's degree

4 years full time

Bachelor's degree with science prerequisites

Prerequisites usually include biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. Most programs expect hands-on patient care experience before applying.

Costs: About $11,950 a year in average published tuition and fees at a public four-year college for in-state students, and $45,000 at a private nonprofit four-year college
Entry requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
High school subjects: Biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology

Master's degree

About 2 to 3 years

Master's degree from an accredited PA program

Combines classroom study with clinical rotations in many specialties. Graduation from an accredited program is required to take the PANCE.

Entry requirements: Bachelor's degree, prerequisites and patient care experience; admission is competitive

License

A few months after graduation

National certification and state license

The PANCE is a computer-based national exam. PAs keep certification by earning continuing education and passing recertification exams.

Entry requirements: Graduation from an accredited PA program

Profile

Skills & personality

Is this a good fit for you?

Hard skills

Patient assessment and physical examsConducting comprehensive physical examinations and collecting accurate patient medical histories.
Diagnosis and treatment planningIdentifying illnesses or injuries and creating tailored clinical treatment regimens.
Pharmacology and prescribingSelecting, calculating, and prescribing appropriate medications safely.
Clinical procedures such as suturingExecuting minor surgical procedures including wound suturing and joint injections.
Interpreting lab and imaging resultsAnalyzing diagnostic findings from laboratory panels, X-rays, and other scans.
Electronic health recordsDocumenting clinical encounters, orders, and patient progress in medical records systems.

Soft skills

CommunicationExplaining medical conditions clearly to patients and collaborating with healthcare teams.
CompassionProviding empathetic care and support to patients facing illness or injury.
TeamworkWorking closely with supervising physicians, nurses, and administrative staff.
Decision making under pressureSelecting sound medical interventions promptly in urgent or critical patient situations.

Is this a good fit for you?

✓
Detail-orientedAttentive to subtle symptoms, diagnostic indicators, and medication dosages during care.
✓
EmpatheticDemonstrating genuine care and emotional understanding when addressing patient concerns.
✓
AdaptableCapable of adjusting quickly to shifting patient priorities and varying clinical schedules.
✓
DecisiveComfortable making informed clinical choices under tight time constraints.
✓
CollaborativeCommitted to cooperative practice alongside physicians and multidisciplinary care providers.

Market

Job market & outlook

What does the market look like?

Openings per year

11,500

Trend

Growth

+21.1%

AI impact

3/10

AI scribes and decision support tools help with notes and diagnosis suggestions. Examining patients, procedures and medical judgment stay human.

Regional demand

New York

Hospitals and specialized outpatient networks maintain high demand for certified providers.

10/10

Pennsylvania

Academic medical centers and regional health systems maintain strong provider demand.

7/10

California

Integrated health systems and specialty medical groups actively recruit clinical staff.

4/10

Florida

Outpatient clinics and adult care facilities sustain continuous need for primary care providers.

4/10

Texas

Growing outpatient centers and regional hospitals offer steady opportunities.

3/10

Growth

Career paths

Where can this profession take you?

Vertical growth

Physician assistant
0-3 years
Examine patients, formulate treatment plans, and prescribe medications in clinical environments.
Senior physician assistant
3-7 years
Manage complex clinical cases and mentor junior advanced practice clinicians.
Lead PA or advanced practice provider manager
7-10 years
Supervise clinical schedules, coordinate workflows, and oversee department provider operations.
Director of advanced practice providers
10+ years
Direct health system strategy, policy enforcement, and institutional provider teams.

Horizontal move

Change specialty, such as from primary care to surgery or emergency medicine
Transition clinical skills into alternate medical areas like emergency rooms or operating suites.
PA program faculty
Instruct graduate students, teach didactic curriculum, and oversee clinical rotation placements.
View Professor

Good to know

Practical info

Working hours: Mostly full time, often 40 or more hours a week, with longer shifts in hospitals and emergency departments.
Remote work: Mostly on site, but telehealth roles in primary care, urgent care and behavioral health allow some remote work.
Physical requirements: On your feet for much of the day in clinics, hospitals or operating rooms, with exposure to infectious diseases.
Typical employers: Physician offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, urgent care clinics, government agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, and telehealth companies.
Professional associations: American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does a physician assistant do?

A physician assistant examines patients, prescribes medication, orders diagnostic tests, and develops treatment plans. They practice medicine across varied specialties in collaboration with physicians. In addition to daily clinical consultations, they perform procedures like suturing and joint injections. In surgical settings, they assist during operations and handle post-operative care. They also spend time educating patients on long-term disease management.

How do you become a certified physician assistant?

You become a certified physician assistant by completing a master's degree from an accredited program and passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam. Most candidates first complete a bachelor's degree with prerequisites in chemistry, biology, anatomy, and physiology. Programs also require hands-on patient care experience before admission. After graduation, passing the exam grants the PA-C credential needed for state licensure.

Where do physician assistants typically work?

Physician assistants work primarily in physician offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, and urgent care clinics. They also work for government agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs and for telehealth companies. Work environments range from private outpatient clinics to busy operating rooms and hospital emergency departments. Telehealth employers also offer opportunities for remote work in primary care and behavioral health.

Do physician assistants work night shifts and weekends?

Physician assistants work nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call duty primarily in hospital, surgical, and emergency roles. In contrast, those employed in outpatient clinic settings work mostly weekday daytime schedules. Shift lengths often vary by department, with hospital and emergency roles requiring longer hours. Overall, most positions require full-time commitments of 40 or more hours a week.

Can a physician assistant change medical specialties?

A physician assistant can change medical specialties throughout their career without completing a new medical degree. For instance, a provider can transition from primary care into emergency medicine, behavioral health, or surgical specialties. Because PA education covers general medicine and rotations across multiple disciplines, clinicians carry foundational clinical knowledge into different medical settings. Ongoing continuing medical education supports these clinical transitions.

How does artificial intelligence affect physician assistants?

Artificial intelligence serves physician assistants primarily by providing decision support tools and automating clinical notes. AI scribes help clinicians document patient encounters in electronic health records more quickly. However, performing physical examinations, completing procedural tasks like suturing, and applying medical judgment remain entirely human responsibilities. Technology aids administrative workflow while patient diagnostic evaluations stay grounded in human clinical care.

Explore further

Related professions

In depth

All about physician assistant

The background, context and details.

Clinical duties and daily patient care

Physician assistants take medical histories and perform physical exams. They diagnose illnesses and injuries while creating appropriate treatment plans. They prescribe medication. Clinicians order diagnostic tests like lab work and X-rays. They perform procedures such as suturing or joint injections. In surgical settings, physician assistants assist in surgery and manage patients before and after operations. They coordinate care with physicians and educate patients about conditions. Teamwork matters.

Work settings and weekly hours

Physician assistants work across several healthcare settings:

Physician offices
Hospitals
Outpatient care centers
Urgent care clinics
Government agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs
Telehealth companies Most physician assistants work full time, often logging 40 or more hours a week. Clinic roles feature predictable weekday daytime hours. Hospital and emergency roles require longer shifts that include nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call duty. Physical stamina is essential. Clinicians spend much of the workday on their feet across outpatient clinics or sterile operating rooms while handling routine exposure to infectious diseases in busy patient care areas.

Required education and credentialing

Training requires graduate study. Students complete a bachelor's degree with prerequisite courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. Most graduate programs expect candidates to complete hands-on patient care experience before applying. Admission is competitive. Candidates then enter an accredited master's degree program lasting about 2 to 3 years that pairs intensive classroom instruction with practical clinical rotations across multiple inpatient and outpatient medical disciplines. Graduates must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam to earn the PA-C credential. A state license is required in all states. Ongoing NCCPA certification maintenance requires continuing medical education.

Employment outlook and career advancement

About 168,900 jobs exist in the United States. Patient demand continues growing. Federal projections show that overall employment is projected to change by 21.1% over the next decade, generating about 11,500 openings each year across hospital networks and community outpatient clinics nationwide. Experienced clinicians can advance into leadership as a lead PA or director of advanced practice providers. Others switch clinical specialties or teach as PA program faculty. Apply to an accredited program to take your next step.