Healthcare Practitioners
Physician Assistants
Also called: Cardiology Physician Assistant, Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C), Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine PA), Family Practice Physician Assistant
US median pay
$135,880
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+21.1%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
11,500
168,900 employed
Typical entry education
Master's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
What they do day to day
- Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
- Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
- Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
- Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
- Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
- Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management.
- Visit and observe patients on hospital rounds or house calls, updating charts, ordering therapy, and reporting back to physician.
- Provide physicians with assistance during surgery or complicated medical procedures.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness4.0/5
- Service Orientation4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Systems Evaluation3.2/5
- Persuasion3.2/5
- Coordination3.2/5
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry5.0/5
- Biology4.8/5
- English Language4.6/5
- Psychology4.6/5
- Therapy and Counseling4.5/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Master's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree81%
- First professional degree14%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.