Clinical physician assistant vs pediatric nurse practitioner

The differences between clinical physician assistants and pediatric nurse practitioners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a clinical physician assistant has an average salary of $145,549, which is higher than the $102,409 average annual salary of a pediatric nurse practitioner.

The top three skills for a clinical physician assistant include patients, primary care and medical care. The most important skills for a pediatric nurse practitioner are patients, diagnosis, and acute care.

Clinical physician assistant vs pediatric nurse practitioner overview

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Yearly salary	$145,549	$102,409
Hourly rate	$69.98	$49.24
Growth rate	28%	40%
Number of jobs	94,210	49,026
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age	39	43
Years of experience	-	2

What does a clinical physician assistant do?

A clinical physician assistant is in charge of performing support tasks in clinics, hospitals, and similar establishments. Typically serving as the patients' first point of contact, it is their responsibility to gather the personal and medical information of patients, identify their needs, answer inquiries, and escort them to offices and other rooms. They may also perform clerical tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, preparing and filing documentation, and coordinating with other offices. Moreover, a clinical physician assistant must maintain an active communication line with physicians and nurses, assisting them as needed.

What does a pediatric nurse practitioner do?

A Pediatric Nurse Practitioners role is to provide advanced nursing services to children. They may work in consultation, or under direct supervision, of physicians.

Clinical physician assistant vs pediatric nurse practitioner salary

Clinical physician assistants and pediatric nurse practitioners have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Average salary	$145,549	$102,409
Salary range	Between $84,000 And $252,000	Between $62,000 And $168,000
Highest paying City	Duluth, MN	Anchorage, AK
Highest paying state	Minnesota	Alaska
Best paying company	Central Ohio Primary Care	Fairview Health Services
Best paying industry	Non Profits	Finance

Differences between clinical physician assistant and pediatric nurse practitioner education

There are a few differences between a clinical physician assistant and a pediatric nurse practitioner in terms of educational background:

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Clinical physician assistant vs pediatric nurse practitioner demographics

Here are the differences between clinical physician assistants' and pediatric nurse practitioners' demographics:

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Average age	39	43
Gender ratio	Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0%	Male, 7.6% Female, 92.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	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%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between clinical physician assistant and pediatric nurse practitioner duties and responsibilities

Clinical physician assistant example responsibilities.

Implement and manage cardiology internship college course.
Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Complete nursing assessments, complete care plans, perform ADL's, utilize lifts, alarms and transfer patients safely.
Care for multiple patients in a fast pace setting and provide total care including all treatments, medications and ADL's.
Perform tracheostomy care and suctioning for ventilator dependent patients.
Provide physical therapy services in the inpatient rehabilitation unit and oncology floor.

Pediatric nurse practitioner example responsibilities.

Initiate and lead a training program for high frequency oscillatory ventilation.
Manage appropriate changes to individualize care plan to ensure cost and time efficacy in an outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation office.
Perform advance practice procedures including: lumbar puncture, PICC line insertion, UAC/UVC insertion and endotracheal intubation.
Provide assessment, diagnosis and management of acutely ill and injure pediatric patients in an urban emergency department.
Return as a new NNP and do clinical.
Complete clinical and provide services as a full time NNP.

Clinical physician assistant vs pediatric nurse practitioner skills

Common clinical physician assistant skills

Patients, 30%
Primary Care, 6%
Medical Care, 6%
Family Medicine, 5%
Urgent Care, 5%
Diagnostic Tests, 4%

Common pediatric nurse practitioner skills

Patients, 32%
Diagnosis, 8%
Acute Care, 6%
PNP, 5%
Physical Exams, 3%
Diagnostic Tests, 3%

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Clinical Physician Assistant
Clinical Physician Assistant vs Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Updated January 8, 2025

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