Pain management physician vs physician extender

The differences between pain management physicians and physician extenders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pain management physician has an average salary of $253,724, which is higher than the $244,718 average annual salary of a physician extender.

The top three skills for a pain management physician include pain management, patients and primary care. The most important skills for a physician extender are patients, patient care, and medical care.

Pain management physician vs physician extender overview

	Pain Management Physician	Physician Extender
Yearly salary	$253,724	$244,718
Hourly rate	$121.98	$117.65
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	109,196	73,599
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a pain management physician do?

Pain management physicians are medical doctors who diagnose and coordinate treatment while providing care for patients who are experiencing pain. By understanding the physiology of pain, these physicians are required to conduct specialized tests to diagnose complex pain conditions as well as prescribe proper medications and therapies to treat them. They must observe their patients for their ability to function and overall quality of life. Pain management physicians must also work with other healthcare professionals such as physical therapists, physiatrists, and nurses to meet all the needs of their patients.

What does a physician extender do?

Physician extenders are not physicians. However, physician extenders perform a vital task in the overall care of patients. They diagnose and treat medical conditions, document and update patient records, consult patients, and perform physical exams. They may serve either as physician assistants or nurse practitioners. In becoming a physician extender, they must be a registered nurse or must have medical experience by working in the medical field even at a lower level. They need to be a regulatory agency certified and licensed instructor in their region or state.

Pain management physician vs physician extender salary

Pain management physicians and physician extenders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Pain Management Physician	Physician Extender
Average salary	$253,724	$244,718
Salary range	Between $129,000 And $497,000	Between $125,000 And $476,000
Highest paying City	Grand Island, NE	Des Moines, IA
Highest paying state	Nebraska	New Mexico
Best paying company	HealthPartners	UnitedHealth Group
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Professional

Differences between pain management physician and physician extender education

There are a few differences between a pain management physician and a physician extender in terms of educational background:

	Pain Management Physician	Physician Extender
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Nursing	Athletic Training
Most common college	Duke University	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Pain management physician vs physician extender demographics

Here are the differences between pain management physicians' and physician extenders' demographics:

	Pain Management Physician	Physician Extender
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3%	Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between pain management physician and physician extender duties and responsibilities

Pain management physician example responsibilities.

Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Perform prosthetic rehabilitation for amputee patients and participate in workshop on post prosthetic rehabilitation.
Operate EMR (electronic medical record )
Sell OFIRMEV to surgery centers for use in peri-operative protocols as an analgesic therapy.
work hardening rehabilitation in an outpatient clinic setting
Participate in workshop on spinal cord injuries and orthotic rehabilitation.

Physician extender example responsibilities.

Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Render emergency medical treatment and transport patients.
Initial reading of EKG's.
Assess patients' symptoms while conducting initial injury evaluation.
Work in an outpatient orthopedic clinic with emphasis on physical medicine, rehabilitation of both chronic and acute orthopedic conditions.
Perform wound care.perform laceration repair including suturing.

Pain management physician vs physician extender skills

Common pain management physician skills

Pain Management, 26%
Patients, 19%
Primary Care, 7%
Family Practice, 6%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Surgery, 4%

Common physician extender skills

Patients, 43%
Patient Care, 15%
Medical Care, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%
Physical Therapy, 3%
Clinical Care, 3%

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Pain Management Physician
Pain Management Physician vs Physician Extender

Updated January 8, 2025

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