10 Highest Paid PA Specialties | Top Physician Assistant Specialties

Have you been searching for the Highest Paid PA Specialties in 2023? Well, search no more; we’ve got you covered.

This blog post reviews some of the Highest Paid PA Specialties in 2023, including their annual salary.

Physician assistants (PAs) are highly skilled healthcare professionals who provide comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages.

They are trained to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and perform a variety of medical procedures. Here, we will discuss holistically, the highest paid PA specialties in 2023.

PAs can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices.

While all PAs earn a good salary, some specialties pay more than others.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the highest-paid PA specialties in 2023.

Who is a Physician Assistant?

A medical professional who implements treatment plans after making a diagnosis is a physician assistant. They recommend the medications you’ll need, the essential treatments, and assistance throughout surgeries.

The duties of the position are essentially identical to those of a doctor. The best job in healthcare, according to U.S. News & World Report, is a physician assistant.

A physician assistant (PA) is a licensed healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a physician.

PAs are trained to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and perform a variety of medical procedures.

They can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices.

PAs must complete a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from an accredited program.

PA programs are typically two years long and include a combination of classroom and clinical training. After graduating from a PA program, PAs must pass a national certification exam to practice.

PAs play an important role in the healthcare system by providing high-quality care to patients of all ages.

They are also helping to address the shortage of primary care physicians in the United States.

What is the Job of a Physician Assistant?

Here are some of the things that PAs can do:

• Take medical histories and perform physical examinations
• Order and interpret laboratory tests and X-rays
• Diagnose and treat illnesses
• Prescribe medications
• Develop and manage treatment plans
• Assist with surgery
• Provide patient education and counseling

PAs are highly skilled and knowledgeable healthcare professionals who play an important role in the healthcare system. They are a valuable asset to any healthcare team.

How Much Do Physician Assistants Earn?

The median annual salary for physician assistants (PAs) in the United States is $121,530, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest-paid 25% of PAs earn more than $131,740 per year, while the lowest-paid 25% earn less than $99,880 per year.

PA salaries can vary depending on several factors, including:

• Specialty: Some PA specialties, such as cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery and neurosurgery, pay more than others.
• Experience: PAs with more experience typically earn higher salaries.
• Location: PAs in certain geographic areas, such as urban areas with high costs of living, typically earn higher salaries.
• Employment setting: PAs who work in certain settings, such as hospitals and private practices, typically earn higher salaries than those who work in clinics and other community-based settings.

Here is a breakdown of the median annual salary for PAs in some of the most popular specialties:

1. Cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery | $152,500
2. Emergency medicine | $141,050
3. Urgent care | $134,763
4. Dermatology | $134,163
5. Orthopedic surgery — general | $132,421
6. Vascular surgery | $129,117
7. Neurological surgery | $127,406
8. Cardiology — general | $127,317
9. General surgery | $127,067
10. Urology | $126,544
11. Primary care | $118,040

If you are considering becoming a physician assistant, you can expect to earn a good salary. However, it is important to keep in mind that PA salaries can vary depending on several factors.

Why Should I Become a Physician Assistant?

Physician assistant employment is anticipated to be in high demand, and physician assistant job prospects and compensation are both promising.

This is one reason to think about becoming a PA rather than pursuing other health professions.

Additionally, despite being tough, the training and academic years needed are shorter than those needed by doctors or surgeons.

The fact that PAs get to spend quality time with patients is one of the reasons James Kim, a well-known YouTuber who gives “a day in the life” tips and information on his PA education and career path, chose PA school rather than medical school, he claims.

If you’re unsure about what career to pursue, he advocates working with or shadowing PAs and MDs. Doing this helped him choose which field was best for him.

Top 10 Highest Paid PA Specialties in 2023

Here is a list of the highest paid PA specialties in 2023, according to Hayes Locums:

1. Cardiothoracic surgery: $142,374
2. Emergency medicine: $141,050
3. Urgent care: $134,763
4. Dermatology: $134,163
5. Orthopedic surgery — general: $132,421
6. Vascular surgery: $129,117
7. Neurological surgery: $127,406
8. Cardiology — general: $127,317
9. General surgery: $127,067
10. Urology: $126,544

Factors that Affect PA Salary

Several factors can affect a PA’s salary, including:

• Specialty: As you can see from the list above, some specialties pay more than others.
• Experience: PAs with more experience typically earn higher salaries.
• Location: PAs in certain geographic areas, such as urban areas with high costs of living, typically earn higher salaries.
• Employment setting: PAs who work in certain settings, such as hospitals and private practices, typically earn higher salaries than those who work in clinics and other community-based settings.

What PA Specialty Has the Best Job Outlook?

The PA specialty with the best job outlook is dermatology.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of PAs in dermatology will grow 29% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

This growth is expected to be driven by an aging population, which is more likely to develop skin conditions such as cancer and psoriasis.

Other PA specialties with good job outlooks include:

• Emergency medicine
• Urgent care
• Primary care
• Psychiatry
• Oncology
• Geriatrics

These specialties are all in high demand due to an aging population and a shortage of physicians.

What are the Pros and Cons of Each High Paying PA Specialty?

Here are the pros and cons of some of the highest-paying PA specialties:

Cardiovascular/Cardiothoracic Surgery

• Pros: High salary, opportunity to work on complex and challenging cases, make a significant difference in patient’s lives
• Cons: Long hours, demanding work environment, high risk of burnout

Emergency Medicine

• Pros: High salary, variety of patients and cases, opportunity to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment
• Cons: Long hours, unpredictable work schedule, high risk of violence

Urgent Care

• Pros: High salary, flexible work schedule, opportunity to work with a variety of patients and cases
• Cons: May have to work long hours, may have to deal with difficult patients

Dermatology

• Pros: High salary, good job outlook, opportunity to work with a variety of patients and cases
• Cons: May have to work long hours, may have to deal with difficult patients

Orthopedic Surgery

• Pros: High salary, opportunity to work with a variety of patients and cases, making a significant difference in patient’s lives
• Cons: Long hours, demanding work environment, high risk of burnout

It is important to weigh the pros and cons of each specialty before making a decision. You should also consider your interests, skills, and personality when choosing a specialty.

Here are some additional things to consider when choosing a PA specialty:

• What kind of work environment do you prefer? Do you want to work in a hospital, clinic, or private practice? Do you want to work in a fast-paced environment or a more relaxed environment?
• What kind of patients do you want to work with? Do you want to work with children, adults, or seniors? Do you want to work with a specific population, such as patients with cancer or patients with heart disease?
• What kind of procedures do you want to perform? Do you want to perform surgery? Do you want to perform diagnostic procedures? Do you want to perform cosmetic procedures?

Once you have considered all of these factors, you can start to narrow down your choices and choose a PA specialty that is right for you.

What are the Training and Education Requirements for Each High-Paying PA Specialty?

The training and education requirements for each high-paying PA specialty are similar, but there may be some minor differences.

All PAs must complete a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from an accredited program.

PA programs are typically two years long and include a combination of classroom and clinical training. After graduating from a PA program, PAs must pass a national certification exam to practice.

In addition to the general PA requirements, some high-paying PA specialties may require additional training and experience.

For example, PAs who want to specialize in cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery or neurosurgery may need to complete a fellowship.

Here is a breakdown of the training and education requirements for some of the highest-paying PA specialties:

• Cardiovascular/Cardiothoracic Surgery | Master’s degree in physician assistant studies, fellowship in cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery
• Emergency Medicine | Master’s degree in physician assistant studies, residency in emergency medicine
• Urgent Care | Master’s degree in physician assistant studies
• Dermatology | Master’s degree in physician assistant studies, residency in dermatology
• Orthopedic Surgery | Master’s degree in physician assistant studies, residency in orthopedic surgery

If you are interested in a particular high-paying PA specialty, you should research the specific training and education requirements for that specialty. You can also talk to PAs in that specialty to get their insights on the training and education process.

Here are some tips for preparing for a high-paying PA specialty:

• Get good grades in your undergraduate and graduate studies.
• Gain experience in the healthcare field. This could include working as a medical assistant, EMT, or paramedic.
• Volunteer or shadow PAs in the specialty you are interested in.
• Get involved in research or extracurricular activities related to your chosen specialty.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of getting into a high-paying PA specialty.

Conclusion on Highest Paid PA Specialties

If you are considering becoming a physician assistant, you may be wondering which specialties pay the most. The highest paid PA specialties in 2023 are cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery, emergency medicine, urgent care, dermatology, and orthopedic surgery.

When choosing a PA specialty, know physician assistant must complete a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from an accredited program.

PA programs are typically two years long and include a combination of classroom and clinical training. After graduating from a PA program, PAs must pass a national certification exam to practice.

Frequently Asked Questions on Highest Paid PA Specialties

Reference

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh
• https://www.glassdoor.com
• https://kiiky.com
• https://teach.com

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