Careers / Physician Assistants
Physician Assistants — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$135,880
United States, 2025
Employment
162,150
United States, 2025
Typical education
Master's Degree
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 29-1071.00
- Job zone
- 5
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$99,380
25th percentile
$120,670
75th percentile
$163,980
90th percentile
$190,280
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Service Orientation4.0
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Writing4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Active Learning3.9
- Science3.6
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 22 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
22
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Service Orientation | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Science | 3.6 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.3 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Instructing | 3.1 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.3 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.3 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $97,550
Compare with Physician AssistantsSupplemental
National median $265,930
Compare with Physician AssistantsSupplemental
National median $292,910
Compare with Physician AssistantsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $223,640 | 1,030 | 2025 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $198,070 | 350 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $184,380 | 1,830 | 2025 |
| Yuba City, CA | $183,460 | 40 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $179,520 | 150 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $172,750 | 140 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | $172,170 | 50 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | $170,180 | 130 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $170,060 | 390 | 2025 |
| Wenatchee, WA | $168,080 | 60 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $167,650 | 16,800 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $167,290 | 1,920 | 2025 |
| Visalia, CA | $166,510 | 100 | 2025 |
| Modesto, CA | $165,730 | 210 | 2025 |
| NJ | $165,690 | 4,790 | 2025 |
| CA | $165,650 | 13,600 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | $165,490 | 1,020 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $165,160 | 1,370 | 2025 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $164,910 | 70 | 2025 |
| Chico, CA | $164,780 | 130 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Physician Assistants to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.