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The differences between certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physician assistant has an average salary of $118,812, which is higher than the $102,331 average annual salary of a certified nurse practitioner.
The top three skills for a certified nurse practitioner include patients, primary care and vital signs. The most important skills for a physician assistant are patients, diagnostic tests, and surgery.
| Certified Nurse Practitioner | Physician Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $102,331 | $118,812 |
| Hourly rate | $49.20 | $57.12 |
| Growth rate | 40% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 82,544 | 39,752 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Certified Nurse Practitioner | Physician Assistant | |
| Average salary | $102,331 | $118,812 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $176,000 | Between $70,000 And $201,000 |
| Highest paying City | Elizabeth, NJ | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Alameda Health System | Marshall University |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a certified nurse practitioner and a physician assistant in terms of educational background:
| Certified Nurse Practitioner | Physician Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Physician Assistant |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between certified nurse practitioners' and physician assistants' demographics:
| Certified Nurse Practitioner | Physician Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.3% Female, 86.7% | Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 77.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |