How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make Per Hour?

Physician assistants made $79,980 in 2008, on average.

Physician assistants are trained to offer diagnostic, therapeutic and basic health care services under the supervision of a physician or surgeon.

Physician Assistant Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2008, the median annual earnings of wage-and-salary physician assistants were $79,980, with an average hourly rate of approximately $42. This figure varied depending on geography and years of experience. The median income for first-year graduates was $70,784.

Like most related fields, increases in salary and hourly pay are based primarily on years of experience. On average, a physician assistant that has been in the field for five to nine years usually makes about $10,000 more a year in salary than a recent graduate. Based on recent salary data, California ranks as the leader in physician assistant salaries; Texas ranks second.

Boosting Your Salary

Continuing education is vital for a physician assistant and it too can boost a salary. As a physician assistant, you can pursue medical school and seek training in areas related to surgery and internal medicine. Completion of certification programs can also boost the salary for a physician assistant.

Becoming A Physician Assistant

People interested in becoming a physician assistant often have an interest in science and have a natural ability to help others. Physician assistant programs are two-year programs often found in schools of allied health, academic health centers, medical schools or traditional four-year colleges. More than 136 accredited physician assistant programs existed in the United States in 2007.

Students interested in studying to become a physician assistant should take college-level courses in biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, psychology and the social sciences. Once in school to become a physician assistant students routinely take courses in anatomy, microbiology, clinical medicine and biochemistry.

Type Of Degree Needed

Most physician assistant programs last at least two years. Admission requirements vary from program to program, but most require at the minimum an associate's degree and some health care experience. Each state requires physician assistants to successfully pass a national exam after schooling to obtain a practitioner license.

The Job Outlook for Physician Assistants

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for physician assistants are expected to grow 27 percent from 2006 to 2016. This increase can be attributed to health care establishments containing costs and the ideology of physicians leaving the inner cities. Because physician assistants make less than physicians, medical establishments view them as cost-effective assets.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Physician Assistants

Resources

• PayScale.com