Physician assistant vs physical therapist

The differences between physician assistants and physical therapists 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 $73,070 average annual salary of a physical therapist.

The top three skills for a physician assistant include patients, diagnostic tests and surgery. The most important skills for a physical therapist are patients, rehabilitation, and home health.

Physician assistant vs physical therapist overview

	Physician Assistant	Physical Therapist
Yearly salary	$118,812	$73,070
Hourly rate	$57.12	$35.13
Growth rate	28%	17%
Number of jobs	39,752	86,697
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	-	-

What does a physician assistant do?

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.

What does a physical therapist do?

Physical therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat patients with health conditions and limited ability to move and perform daily activities. They help in restoring physical function and mobility and teach how to properly use therapeutic exercise techniques. They also help promote overall wellness and encourage healthier and more active lifestyles. They design a recovery plan unique for every patient, provide treatment and therapy to help improve and manage their condition. They provide care to all kinds of individuals, from newborns to people at the end of their life.

Physician assistant vs physical therapist salary

Physician assistants and physical therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Physician Assistant	Physical Therapist
Average salary	$118,812	$73,070
Salary range	Between $70,000 And $201,000	Between $56,000 And $94,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Vermont	California
Best paying company	Marshall University	Parkway
Best paying industry	Education	Professional

Differences between physician assistant and physical therapist education

There are a few differences between a physician assistant and a physical therapist in terms of educational background:

	Physician Assistant	Physical Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Physical Therapy
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Physician assistant vs physical therapist demographics

Here are the differences between physician assistants' and physical therapists' demographics:

	Physician Assistant	Physical Therapist
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4%	Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7%
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, 3.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between physician assistant and physical therapist duties and responsibilities

Physician assistant example responsibilities.

Manage a variety of acute and chronic conditions especially asthma, allergies, injuries, and infectious diseases.
Manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, ASCVD, chronic back and joint pains, depression, and anxiety.
Manage patient surgical care throughout the continuum of care from pre-op, to discharge planning, including ambulatory and hospital in-patients.
Attain pertinent history & physicals for obstetrics and gynecological acute and preventative visits.
Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Aid in the acute management of trauma patients including obtaining appropriate studies, suturing, and CPR.

Physical therapist example responsibilities.

Conduct in-services and train colleagues in effective techniques for safely managing the CVA patient.
Achieve high level of patients satisfaction due to sound clinical management, quality of care and compassion.
Perform physical therapy evaluation and treatment of orthopedic patients and supervise PTAs.
Progress patients' functional mobility during treatment sessions by modifying task, intensity, and adaptive equipment utilize.
Motivate patients to participate in treatment sessions by educating them on the benefits of early mobility following cardiac and thoracic surgery.
Experience include IFSP and IEP writing and implementation

Physician assistant vs physical therapist skills

Common physician assistant skills

Patients, 29%
Diagnostic Tests, 6%
Surgery, 5%
Primary Care, 5%
Urgent Care, 4%
CPR, 3%

Common physical therapist skills

Patients, 30%
Rehabilitation, 15%
Home Health, 13%
Quality Care, 5%
Physical Therapy, 3%
Treatment Programs, 3%

Physician Assistant vs. similar jobs

Physician Assistant related careers

Physician Assistant related jobs

Physician Assistant jobs by location

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistant vs Physical Therapist

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs