Physician assistant student vs surgical physician assistant

The differences between physician assistant students and surgical physician assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a surgical physician assistant has an average salary of $153,482, which is higher than the $139,236 average annual salary of a physician assistant student.

The top three skills for a physician assistant student include patients, physical exams and emergency medicine. The most important skills for a surgical physician assistant are patients, patient care, and diagnostic tests.

Physician assistant student vs surgical physician assistant overview

	Physician Assistant Student	Surgical Physician Assistant
Yearly salary	$139,236	$153,482
Hourly rate	$66.94	$73.79
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	58,769	73,380
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a physician assistant student do?

Physician assistant students enjoy salaries of $80K to $84K per year and must have 2 years of postgraduate education. This position calls for skills in communication, practice-based learning environments, and professionalism. Those who choose this career will be expected to provide diagnostic and therapeutic patient care, take patient histories, perform physical exams, order lab and diagnostic work, and administer precise medications.

What does a surgical physician assistant do?

A surgical physician assistant plays a vital role in surgeries and patient care. In surgeries, they typically assist surgeons by performing physical examinations on patients, handing tools and necessary items, closing incisions, and even maintaining the cleanliness of operating rooms while adhering to the hospital's health and safety regulations. It is also their duty to assist patients before and after surgeries by answering inquiries, discussing important matters such as treatment options, prescribing or administering medicine, and counseling patients, helping them feel comfortable every step of the way.

Physician assistant student vs surgical physician assistant salary

Physician assistant students and surgical physician assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Physician Assistant Student	Surgical Physician Assistant
Average salary	$139,236	$153,482
Salary range	Between $80,000 And $240,000	Between $89,000 And $264,000
Highest paying City	-	Rochester, MN
Highest paying state	-	Nebraska
Best paying company	-	Mayo Clinic
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between physician assistant student and surgical physician assistant education

There are a few differences between a physician assistant student and a surgical physician assistant in terms of educational background:

	Physician Assistant Student	Surgical Physician Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common major	Biology	Physician Assistant
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Physician assistant student vs surgical physician assistant demographics

Here are the differences between physician assistant students' and surgical physician assistants' demographics:

	Physician Assistant Student	Surgical Physician Assistant
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 30.8% Female, 69.2%	Male, 39.5% Female, 60.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.3% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 11.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between physician assistant student and surgical physician assistant duties and responsibilities

Physician assistant student example responsibilities.

Perform therapeutic procedures by administering injections and immunizations; suturing; managing wounds and infections.
Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Obtain a detail medical and psychiatry history from each patient.
Train in current cardiology standards of care and appropriate medications.
Conduct procedure-based interventions including suturing, incision and drainage, splinting, and administration of local anesthesia.
Perform well and sick visits, consisting of both comprehensive and focuse history and physical examinations of pediatric patients, respectively.

Surgical physician assistant example responsibilities.

Manage s/p cardiac bypass in recovery unit, ICU and step down units.
Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Certify CPR and basic first aid instructor trainer.
Perform debridement, incision and drainage, wind VAC, ostomy care.
Perform resuscitative measures in a code setting using ACLS, ATLS protocols.
Perform minor procedures including but not limit to: Foley catheter placement, drain removal, dressing changes and removals

Physician assistant student vs surgical physician assistant skills

Common physician assistant student skills

Patients, 19%
Physical Exams, 7%
Emergency Medicine, 6%
Family Medicine, 6%
Patient Care, 5%
Internal Medicine, 4%

Common surgical physician assistant skills

Patients, 29%
Patient Care, 12%
Diagnostic Tests, 6%
Physical Examinations, 4%
Surgical Procedures, 3%
CPR, 3%

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Physician Assistant Student
Physician Assistant Student vs Surgical Physician Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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