Medical Assistants vs Physician Assistants salary

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that Medical Assistants have an average annual salary of $38,190, while Physician Assistants earn an average of $119,460 per year. This indicates that Physician Assistants earn significantly more than Medical Assistants.

Keep in mind, however, that factors such as location, experience, and the specific workplace can affect salary. For instance, Medical Assistants in Washington may have higher earnings (averaging $47,320 per year) compared to those in Louisiana ($30,620). As another example, the average wage of Physician Assistants in Connecticut is 98% higher than those in Arkansas.

Medical Assistants vs Physician Assistants overview

Medical Assistants and Physician Assistants are crucial to the Health Care Services industry. People are often interested in learning about the distinctions between these job titles, including the average earnings for each of them.

Medical Assistant job description

Medical Assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

Medical Assistant education and experience

Among Medical Assistants, 45% have obtained a Post-Secondary Certificate, 21% hold a High School Diploma, and 17% have a Bachelor's Degree. When it comes to experience, 41% of Medical Assistant occupations require a 6 months to 1 year of previous work-related experience. A smaller portion of roles (20%) do not require any previous experience.

Medical Assistant average salary

Based on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 727,760 Medical Assistants were employed by the United States in 2021, and their average annual wage was $38,190. The lowest earning 10 percent made $29,070 or less, and the highest earning 10 percent made $48,170 or more per year. Compared to the previous year, the mean salary has grown by 3.4%.

Do Medical Assistants make good money?

Medical Assistants are not typically highly paid, since their mean salary is about a third below the average pay in the United States ($58,260). Furthermore, they make about a half less than the mean salary of the Health Care Services industry ($70,360).

Medical Assistants are not typically highly paid, since their mean salary is about a third below the average pay in the United States ($58,260).

Medical Assistants job growth

In 2021, there have been 17,560 more Medical Assistant job opportunities than the previous year across the nation, and that shows an increase of 2.5%. Job growth has averaged 2.6% over the past 3 years.

Physician Assistant job description

Physician Assistants 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.

Physician Assistant education and experience

In order to become a Physician Assistant, a person typically must obtain a Master's Degree. However this occupation also includes some employees who have a First Professional Degree (14%) and a Bachelor's Degree (5%). In terms of experience, 35% of Physician Assistant jobs require no previous experience. A smaller part of jobs (22%) require a previous experience of 6 months to 1 year.

Physician Assistant average salary

Based on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 132,940 Physician Assistants were employed by the United States in 2021, and their average annual salary was $119,460. The bottom 10 percent had earnings of $77,940 or less, and the top 10 percent had earnings of $164,620 or more. The average salary has grown by 2.9% compared the previous year.

Do Physician Assistants make good money?

Physician Assistants are usually paid well, as their average salary is 105% higher than the average salary in the United States ($58,260). Furthermore, they earn 70% more than the average pay of the Health Care Services industry ($70,360).

Physician Assistants are usually paid well, as their average salary is 105% higher than the average salary in the United States ($58,260).

Physician Assistants job growth

There has been a growth in the number of Physician Assistants being hired over the last two years. In 2021, there have been 7,660 more roles than the previous year nationwide, which marks a growth of 6.1%. The average job growth over the past 3 years has been 5%.

FAQ

Do Medical Assistants or Physician Assistants make more?

Physician Assistants earn over two times more than Medical Assistants. Medical Assistants average around $38,190 per year, while Physician Assistants make $119,460 per year.

How long does it take to become a Medical Assistant vs Physician Assistant?

Becoming a Medical Assistant typically requires a Post-Secondary Certificate. Obtaining a Post-Secondary Certificate usually takes between 1 year and 2 years of study. In contrast, becoming a Physician Assistant typically requires a Master's Degree. Obtaining a Master's Degree usually takes between 2 years and 3 years of study. However, if we consider that a Bachelor's Degree is required beforehand, the full education may take around 7 years to complete.

Is it harder to become a Medical Assistant vs Physician Assistant?

Becoming a Physician Assistant is much more difficult than becoming a Medical Assistant, since it takes 5 more years of education.