Physical Therapists vs Physician Assistants salary

As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Physical Therapists earn an average of $92,920 per year, while Physician Assistants earn an average of $119,460 per year. Therefore, the salary for Physician Assistants is much higher than that of Physical Therapists.

However, it's worth noting that the salary of an employee can be influenced by factors such as location and experience. As an example, Physical Therapists working in Nevada (with a salary of $104,210 on average) may earn more than those in North Dakota ($81,480). To provide another instance, Physician Assistants in Connecticut have an average wage that is 98% higher than those in Arkansas.

Physical Therapists vs Physician Assistants overview

Physical Therapists and Physician Assistants are fundamental to the Health Care Services industry. People are often interested in learning about the differences between these occupations, as well as the average pay for each.

Physical Therapist job description

Physical Therapists assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.

Physical Therapist education and experience

About a half of Physical Therapists have obtained a Doctoral Degree, 38% hold a Master's Degree, and 8% have a Bachelor's Degree. Regarding experience, about a third of Physical Therapist occupations require no previous experience. A smaller portion of roles (23%) require a previous experience of 1 to 2 years.

Physical Therapist average salary

As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United States had a workforce of 225,350 Physical Therapists in 2021 and they earned an average of $92,920 per year. The lowest earning 10 percent made $61,930 or less, and the highest earning 10 percent made $127,110 or more per year. Compared to the previous year, the mean salary has increased by 1.4%.

Do Physical Therapists make good money?

Physical Therapists typically make good salaries, since their mean salary is 59% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260). Furthermore, they make about a third more than the mean salary of the Health Care Services industry ($70,360).

Physical Therapists typically make good salaries, since their mean salary is 59% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260).

Physical Therapists job growth

In 2021, there have been 4,480 more Physical Therapist job opportunities than the previous year across the nation, and that shows an increase of 2%. The average job growth rate for the past 3 years has been -0.4%.

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

To become a Physician Assistant, an individual usually must obtain a Master's Degree. But this field also includes some employees who have a First Professional Degree (14%) and a Bachelor's Degree (5%). When it comes to experience, 35% of Physician Assistant occupations do not require any previous experience. A smaller number of roles (22%) require a previous experience of 6 months to 1 year.

Physician Assistant average salary

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that in 2021, there were 132,940 Physician Assistants working in the United States, and on average, they earned $119,460 per year. The bottom 10 percent earned $77,940 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $164,620 or more. Compared to the previous year, the mean salary has increased by 2.9%.

Do Physician Assistants make good money?

Physician Assistants generally earn good salaries, since their mean salary is 105% above the average salary in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they make 70% more than the mean earnings of the Health Care Services industry ($70,360).

Physician Assistants generally earn good salaries, since their mean salary is 105% above the average salary in the United States ($58,260).

Physician Assistants job growth

There has been an increase in the employment of Physician Assistants in the last two years. In 2021, there have been 7,660 more roles than the previous year across the nation, and that marks a growth of 6.1%. Job growth has averaged 5% over the past 3 years.

FAQ

Do Physical Therapists or Physician Assistants make more?

Physician Assistants earn about a third more than Physical Therapists. Physical Therapists average around $92,920 per year, while Physician Assistants make $119,460 per year.

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

Becoming a Physical Therapist generally requires a Doctoral Degree. Completing a Doctoral Degree most often takes between 4 years and 6 years of study. But, considering that a Master's Degree must be obtained first, the full educational program might take around 13 years to finish. In contrast, becoming a Physician Assistant generally requires a Master's Degree. Completing a Master's Degree most often takes between 2 years and 3 years of study. But, considering that a Bachelor's Degree must be obtained first, the full educational program might take around 7 years to finish.

Is it harder to become a Physical Therapist vs Physician Assistant?

Becoming a Physical Therapist is considerably harder than becoming a Physician Assistant, as it takes 6 more years of education.

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