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The differences between physician assistants and nurse practitioners 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 $100,033 average annual salary of a nurse practitioner.
The top three skills for a physician assistant include patients, diagnostic tests and surgery. The most important skills for a nurse practitioner are patients, diagnosis, and home health.
| Physician Assistant | Nurse Practitioner | |
| Yearly salary | $118,812 | $100,033 |
| Hourly rate | $57.12 | $48.09 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 40% |
| Number of jobs | 39,752 | 27,912 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2.67 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Master's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
The physician assistant, also known as "PA," is now considered a key player to any healthcare team. Physician assistants are health care professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians. They work on several areas of medicine, from primary care to emergency service and even psychiatry. Neither they are a doctor nor a physician, but their job profile showcases many of these responsibilities. More than as assistants to the doctors, they are also equipped to examine, diagnose, and develop treatment strategies for patients.
A nurse practitioner's role is diverse. It revolves around supervising nurses in a particular area and providing immediate care and treatment to patients through extensive knowledge and clinical experience. Among the duties of a nurse practitioner involves diagnosing and treating medical conditions, performing research and analysis through various tests, evaluating data and results, operating different kinds of medical equipment, and gathering samples from patients. Furthermore, a nurse practitioner must maintain an active line of communication and coordination among fellow health workers in a hospital or clinic.
Physician assistants and nurse practitioners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Physician Assistant | Nurse Practitioner | |
| Average salary | $118,812 | $100,033 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $201,000 | Between $62,000 And $161,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | California |
| Best paying company | Marshall University | Pace University |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner in terms of educational background:
| Physician Assistant | Nurse Practitioner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Master's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Physician Assistant | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between physician assistants' and nurse practitioners' demographics:
| Physician Assistant | Nurse Practitioner | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4% | Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |