Pediatric physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant

The differences between pediatric physician assistants and family practice physician assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pediatric physician assistant has an average salary of $159,438, which is higher than the $125,500 average annual salary of a family practice physician assistant.

The top three skills for a pediatric physician assistant include patients, internal medicine and pediatric emergency. The most important skills for a family practice physician assistant are patients, primary care, and family medicine.

Pediatric physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant overview

	Pediatric Physician Assistant	Family Practice Physician Assistant
Yearly salary	$159,438	$125,500
Hourly rate	$76.65	$60.34
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	52,560	64,140
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a pediatric physician assistant do?

A pediatric physician assistant's role is to assist pediatricians and patients in a medical facility. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering young patients' personal information and medical histories, maintaining and updating records, escorting patients to different rooms, relaying important details to families and guardians, and displaying a positive and friendly attitude to patients. There are also instances when a pediatric physician assistant must run errands, coordinate with other physician assistants, and maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of particular areas.

What does a family practice physician assistant do?

Family practice assistants diagnose diseases, examine patients, interpret lab tests, prescribe medications, treat illnesses and injuries, perform minor surgeries, educate patients, provide home visits, and make hospital rounds. These assistants are healthcare professionals who are licensed to practice medicine with a senior physician's supervision. To become a family practice assistant, it is necessary to have strong communication skills, professionalism, effective and appropriate application of medical knowledge, system-based practice, and practice-based learning.

Pediatric physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant salary

Pediatric physician assistants and family practice physician assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Pediatric Physician Assistant	Family Practice Physician Assistant
Average salary	$159,438	$125,500
Salary range	Between $92,000 And $273,000	Between $76,000 And $205,000
Highest paying City	Fargo, ND	-
Highest paying state	Nebraska	-
Best paying company	Billings Clinic	-
Best paying industry	Health Care	-

Differences between pediatric physician assistant and family practice physician assistant education

There are a few differences between a pediatric physician assistant and a family practice physician assistant in terms of educational background:

	Pediatric Physician Assistant	Family Practice Physician Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Physician Assistant
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Pediatric physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant demographics

Here are the differences between pediatric physician assistants' and family practice physician assistants' demographics:

	Pediatric Physician Assistant	Family Practice Physician Assistant
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 23.7% Female, 76.3%	Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 11.4% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	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%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between pediatric physician assistant and family practice physician assistant duties and responsibilities

Pediatric physician assistant example responsibilities.

Manage general medical problems and medications for inpatient adult and pediatric patients including inpatient rounding, admission and discharge summaries.
Obtain histories and perform physical examinations for new and establish adult and pediatric patients.
Compound epidural for pregnant women in labor.
Excel at maintaining medical records within the EMR.
Utilize multiple inpatient and outpatient EMR and PACS systems.
Order and review radiographs, MRI's and electromyographies.

Family practice physician assistant example responsibilities.

Manage ICU patients and ventilator management.
Provide primary care services to uninsure and under-insure patients in both rural and urban community health centers throughout central California.
Provide preventative services, routine physical exams, appropriate screening examinations, vaccinations and health education for adult and pediatric patients.
Interpret x rays, diagnosis, and treat.
See patients post-op in ICU and on the floors.
Interpret EKG, plain films/CT, and laboratory values.

Pediatric physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant skills

Common pediatric physician assistant skills

Patients, 33%
Internal Medicine, 14%
Pediatric Emergency, 11%
Patient Care, 9%
EMR, 9%
Outpatient Clinic, 3%

Common family practice physician assistant skills

Patients, 29%
Primary Care, 11%
Family Medicine, 10%
Patient Care, 7%
Urgent Care, 6%
Epic, 4%

Pediatric Physician Assistant vs. similar jobs

Pediatric Physician Assistant related careers

Pediatric Physician Assistant related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Pediatric Physician Assistant
Pediatric Physician Assistant vs Family Practice Physician Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs