Surgical physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant

The differences between surgical physician assistants and family practice 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 $125,500 average annual salary of a family practice physician assistant.

The top three skills for a surgical physician assistant include patients, patient care and diagnostic tests. The most important skills for a family practice physician assistant are patients, primary care, and family medicine.

Surgical physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant overview

	Surgical Physician Assistant	Family Practice Physician Assistant
Yearly salary	$153,482	$125,500
Hourly rate	$73.79	$60.34
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	73,380	64,140
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

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.

What does a family practice physician assistant do?

Family practice assistants diagnose diseases, examine patients, interpret lab tests, prescribe medications, treat illnesses and injuries, perform minor surgeries, educate patients, provide home visits, and make hospital rounds. These assistants are healthcare professionals who are licensed to practice medicine with a senior physician's supervision. To become a family practice assistant, it is necessary to have strong communication skills, professionalism, effective and appropriate application of medical knowledge, system-based practice, and practice-based learning.

Surgical physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant salary

Surgical physician assistants and family practice physician assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Surgical Physician Assistant	Family Practice Physician Assistant
Average salary	$153,482	$125,500
Salary range	Between $89,000 And $264,000	Between $76,000 And $205,000
Highest paying City	Rochester, MN	-
Highest paying state	Nebraska	-
Best paying company	Mayo Clinic	-
Best paying industry	Health Care	-

Differences between surgical physician assistant and family practice physician assistant education

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

	Surgical Physician Assistant	Family Practice Physician Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Physician Assistant
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Surgical physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant demographics

Here are the differences between surgical physician assistants' and family practice physician assistants' demographics:

	Surgical Physician Assistant	Family Practice Physician Assistant
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 39.5% Female, 60.5%	Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between surgical physician assistant and family practice physician assistant duties and responsibilities

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

Family practice physician assistant example responsibilities.

Manage ICU patients and ventilator management.
Provide primary care services to uninsure and under-insure patients in both rural and urban community health centers throughout central California.
Provide preventative services, routine physical exams, appropriate screening examinations, vaccinations and health education for adult and pediatric patients.
Interpret x rays, diagnosis, and treat.
See patients post-op in ICU and on the floors.
Interpret EKG, plain films/CT, and laboratory values.

Surgical physician assistant vs family practice physician assistant skills

Common surgical physician assistant skills

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

Common family practice physician assistant skills

Patients, 29%
Primary Care, 11%
Family Medicine, 10%
Patient Care, 7%
Urgent Care, 6%
Epic, 4%

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Surgical Physician Assistant
Surgical Physician Assistant vs Family Practice Physician Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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