What are the pros and cons of being a physician assistant?

Pros:

• Good pay. On average, physician assistants make double the average salary in the United States. This is a good salary, and along with good pay, physician assistant also have great benefits including great health insurance and retirement plans.

• You help people. Physician assistants are able to help people in their times of need, and this can be extremely rewarding. You can also do all of this with less debt and time commitment than becoming a doctor.

• Job security. Physician assistants are in demand and should always be in demand, as they work to help people who are sick or hurt to get better. There is always a market for healthcare.

Cons

• Long hours. Physician assistants work shift work, and they can sometimes work 10- to 12-hour shifts. These shifts may land on weekends or holidays, which can be a negative for many people.

• Lack of growth opportunities. The starting salary for a physician assistant is around $90,000. After 20 years of experience, the average salary for a physician assistant is $110,000. While these are by no means low salaries, there is not a huge amount of change or growth.

• Always under a supervising physician. No matter how much experience you have and how knowledgeable you may be on a case, you never are able to be fully in charge of it. You always must report to a supervising physician, which can be extremely frustrating.