PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT 101

What is a Physician Assistant and how much can they earn?

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Students will be pleased to know that a physician assistant salary is relatively high. Based upon the exact location of work, a physician assistant can expect to make between $50,000 and $80,000 per year. By definition, a physician assistant, abbreviated PA, is a healthcare professional licensed by the state in which he works to practice medicine as a member of a team with doctors. Overview A physician assistants main concern is to prevent, maintain and, finally, treat both human sickness as well as injury by offering patients a wide selection of healthcare services that have been traditionally administered by doctors. It is not uncommon for such a physician assistant to perform physical examinations, diagnose sicknesses and then prescribe a course of treatment for said sicknesses. In addition, he might also order and then interpret lab tests, give advice with regard to preventive healthcare, help in surgery, hand out medical instructions and even write prescriptions. For all of these tasks, a physician assistant salary is usually quite high. Students who go on to become physician assistants can rest assured that their physician assistant salary is somewhat higher when compared to those of other healthcare professionals. A lot of various aspects contribute to this reality, but in essence, a physician assistant actually does a lot of what a regular doctor does in the carrying out of his duties. As a result, a physician assistant currently is in high demand across many different healthcare settings, and this has a lot to do with the fact that a physician assistant is capable of performing specialized duties that, frankly, others in the healthcare field simply are not qualified to perform themselves. With respect to the exact physician assistant salary that students can expect to be making if they go on to become a physician assistant, it will vary according to numerous factors. However, the considerations that they will have to look at in terms of how much they could make as a physician assistant are quite straightforward. What follows is a concise look at what constitutes a best-guest scenario of what students can expect to earn as a physician assistant. If students weight what they have to go through to go on to become a physician assistant with what can be achieved in such a career, they will understand that the benefits are many and extend well beyond just mere monetary ones. Based upon a variety of factors that will be explored in greater detail in the following sections, the salary range for a physician assistant can be anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000. There are naturally going to be situations where you
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can expect to make either less or more than this range, yet based on information from Indeed.com, these numbers correctly reflect the current salary of this medical profession. Factors to look at Specialization: Specialization relates to how much specialized knowhow a physician assistant possesses. For instance, specialized knowhow can relate to work in dealing with cancer. No matter what specific specialized knowhow it is, physician assistants with this specialization are in a position of power to demand more when applying for a job. This has to do with the fact that specialization makes them more in demand. Geography: If physician assistants are working in more rural regions, they are not going to be earning as much as those who work in bigger, urban centers. As a result, students should remember that geography is going to play a large role in determining how much they will make. Students should still remind themselves, however, that it is possible to still earn a good living even in a rural setting. Earnings Based on data coming from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average physician assistant salary per year is $81,230, current as of May 2008. The lower 10 percent of persons working as physician assistants makes about $51,360 per year, while the average percentage of those currently working physician assistants earns between $68,210 and $97,070. On the other side of the spectrum, the highest 10 percent can earn up to $110,240 every year. The median, yearly salaries of people in this profession who work at various locations are as follows: Educational Institutions: $74,200 Government Offices: $78,200 Doctors Offices and Clinics: $80,440 Outpatient Centers and Clinics: $84,390 Hospitals: $84,550

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Income is also based in large part on how many hours of work a physician assistant puts in. If students plan on working full-time as physician assistants, they can very well expect to make a yearly salary of $85,710. This information comes from the 2008 Census Report of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). Based upon some of the aspects talked about previously, entry-level physician assistants can expect to still make around $74,470. Besides what they make, physician assistants can also be entitled to receive payment for state licensing fees, professional liability insurance, credential fees and registration fees with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). Based on the aforementioned 2008 Census Report, the average income for a physician assistant who was employed in clinical practice full-time was $85,710. Still, the average income for those who were newly graduated was just $74,470. Students must keep in mind that said income will vary depending on location, practice setting, experience and specialty. Physician assistants can leave credits that may be utilized for recuperation from illness or for vacation. They have the choice to go for early retirement when they reach 50, although the majority likes to work until 65 so that they can obtain larger benefits for themselves upon retirement. Job Outlook Theres been a continuous demand increase for physician assistants for the last 10 years. It is only expected to grow for the next 8 years, which also means that the physician assistant salary will grow, too. This growth will come mainly from additional healthcare facilities springing up in rural and inner city areas. By 2018, there is expected to be a 39 percent growth in job opportunities for physician assistants, based on 2008 job opportunities.

About PhysicianAssistantSalary.co: Launched in December 2011, PhysicianAssistantSalary.co features all of the information people need when considering a physician assistant career. From the average physician assistant salary to physician assistant requirements, people can learn statistical data and the important ins and outs of this fast-growing medical position.
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