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The differences between registered nurses and physician assistants 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 $73,349 average annual salary of a registered nurse.
The top three skills for a registered nurse include patients, BLS and CPR. The most important skills for a physician assistant are patients, diagnostic tests, and surgery.
| Registered Nurse | Physician Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $73,349 | $118,812 |
| Hourly rate | $35.26 | $57.12 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 646,159 | 39,752 |
| Job satisfaction | 2.75 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
The primary responsibilities of a registered nurse involve caring for a variety of patients, from ill and injured to those who are healthy and wanting to stay that way. Nurses have different specialization and work with particular patients, such as newborn babies or those who are suffering from particular medical conditions. They work on different settings which includes hospital, outpatient facility, rehabilitation center, nursing home, dialysis center, home healthcare agency, and other offices. They can administer medications, wound care, and other aids or treatment plan. They also conduct medical tests, interpret the results, and monitor patients' recovery and progress.
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.
Registered nurses and physician assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Registered Nurse | Physician Assistant | |
| Average salary | $73,349 | $118,812 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $117,000 | Between $70,000 And $201,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Vermont |
| Best paying company | NORCAL Ambulance | Marshall University |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a registered nurse and a physician assistant in terms of educational background:
| Registered Nurse | Physician Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Physician Assistant |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between registered nurses' and physician assistants' demographics:
| Registered Nurse | Physician Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7% | Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 12% |