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Job outlook for physician assistants in the United States
Physician assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected physician assistant job growth rate is 28% from 2018-2028.
About 38,400 new jobs for physician assistants are projected over the next decade.
Physician assistant salaries have increased 14% for physician assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 126,421 physician assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 39,752 active physician assistant job openings in the US.
The average physician assistant salary is $118,812.
Are physician assistant jobs in demand?
Physician Assistant job and salary trends over time
Physician Assistant jobs over time
Physician Assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 126,421 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 119,137 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 114,201 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 109,085 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 103,864 | 0.03% |
Average physician assistant salary over time
Physician Assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $118,812 | $57.12 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $115,590 | $55.57 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $111,831 | $53.77 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $107,970 | $51.91 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | $104,490 | $50.24 | +3.4% |
Physician Assistant jobs by state
Most common states for physician assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 161 | 19% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 187 | 14% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 108 | 14% |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 653 | 11% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 240 | 11% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 111 | 11% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 83 | 11% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 71 | 11% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 583 | 10% |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,130 | 9% |
| 11 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 515 | 8% |
| 12 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 380 | 8% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 331 | 8% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 273 | 8% |
| 15 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 105 | 8% |
| 16 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,362 | 7% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 397 | 7% |
| 18 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 201 | 7% |
| 19 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 102 | 7% |
| 20 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 47 | 7% |
Most common cities for physician assistants
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford | 19 | 15% | $158,639 |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | 22 | 11% | $112,654 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu | 35 | 10% | $127,647 |
| 4 | Killeen | 15 | 10% | $99,624 |
| 5 | Fargo | 12 | 10% | $105,023 |
| 6 | Worcester | 14 | 8% | $170,605 |
| 7 | Miami | 25 | 6% | $100,387 |
| 8 | Baltimore | 30 | 5% | $129,993 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs | 17 | 4% | $93,237 |
| 10 | Boston | 22 | 3% | $172,215 |
| 11 | Tucson | 16 | 3% | $105,661 |
| 12 | Houston | 52 | 2% | $102,447 |
| 13 | San Francisco | 14 | 2% | $126,880 |
| 14 | Las Vegas | 13 | 2% | $112,508 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 22 | 1% | $120,049 |
| 16 | New York | 26 | 0% | $155,064 |
| 17 | Chicago | 12 | 0% | $112,463 |
Physician Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of physician assistant experts
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Arizona State University
California Baptist University
Davenport University
Timothy Sparta
Clinical Education DirectorUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore
Physician Assistant Department
What skills stand out on Physician Assistant resumes?
Timothy Sparta: PAs that have remained at the same job and received at least 3 to 5 years of training in their specialty, PAs with a dedicated stance on serving the local community and diverse patient populations, PAs with a diverse skill set and are flexible.
What soft skills should all Physician Assistants possess?
Timothy Sparta: Punctuality; willingness to always learn, as medicine is a constantly evolving field.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Physician Assistants?
Timothy Sparta: Good bedside manner, great communication skills, strong physical examination skills; many technical skills will be based on where the PA decides to practice, such as ER vs. office setting.
What skills will help Physician Assistants earn the most?
Timothy Sparta: PAs are generally do what they do to ensure the community remains healthy. Certain fields such as dermatology and emergency medicine tend to pay more, so having experience and skills in these fields may provide a higher salary.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Physician Assistant job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Randolph Nesse: Specialists in genetic methods for understanding the evolution of pathogens will have many opportunities.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Physician Assistants?
Dr. Randolph Nesse: A PhD in Evolutionary biology, genetics, anthropology, or a degree in medicine or public health are the entry pathways to the field. The best way to get into good programs is to do research and publish papers as a undergraduate with a great advisor.
What will help Physician Assistants increase their earning potential?
Dr. Randolph Nesse: People do not go into this field to earn more than others, they go into it because they are fascinated and because they want to help contribute to the growth of a whole new field with vast potential for improving human health.
Karlyssa Chung
Clinical Coordinator of Physician Assistant Studies, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies, Certified Physician AssistantCalifornia Baptist University
Department of Physician Assistant Studies
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Physician Assistant job market given the pandemic?
Karlyssa Chung: Telemedicine and virtual business in some capacity is here to stay. For patient and provider convenience many will utilize telemed for routine follow-up encounters like review of lab results and diagnostic studies, medication refills, and minor chief complaints. Additionally, virtual conferences allow comprehensive healthcare teams to meet for case discussions and development of patient management plans without the burden of travel to overcome physical distance.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Physician Assistants?
Karlyssa Chung: NCCPA certification, CME compliance, state certification, DEA licensure, BLS/ACLS certification
What's a good job out of college for Physician Assistants?
Karlyssa Chung: The medical field is always in demand.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Physician Assistants to find work opportunities?
Marjolijn Van der Velde Ph.D.: Most state's product information on their job outlook over a 5-10 year period. The State of Michigan's "Hot 50" features the 50 most high demand, high wage careers through 2028. The report identifies the highest need jobs requiring a bachelor's degree as general and operations managers with 5,460 expected openings every year. The highest growth rates over the ten year period 2018-2028 are for speech-language pathologists and physician assistants. Both positions require a master's degree and are expected to grow 18% over the ten year period. I have attached a copy of Michigan's Hot 50 report.