Physician Aides Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Education programs for physician aides usually last for at least 2 years at schools of allied health, academic health centers, medical schools, 4-year colleges, community colleges, through the military or in hospitals. Many accredited PA programs have clinical teaching affiliations with medical schools. In 2007, 136 education programs for physician aides have been accredited or provisionally accredited by the American Academy of Physician Assistants. More than 90 of these programs offered the option of a master’s degree, and the rest offered either a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree. Most applicants to physician aide educational programs already have a bachelor’s degree.
Training and Education
Successful employees find it useful to have a master's degree. According to recent surveys, 67% of physician aides had received a degree. Workers with some schooling beyond high school, but not a college degree, total about 26%. A high school degree was all that was needed for 8% of employees.
Job Overview
Physician Aides practice medicine under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. They are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive health care services, as delegated by a physician. They also do more complex tasks, such as set simple fractures and run electrocardiograms. They may sew up wounds, provide treatment for common illnesses and prescribe medicine. They are trained to deal with many medical emergencies and are the principal care providers in rural or inner city clinics where a physician is present for only one or two days each week. They also make house calls or visit hospitals and nursing care facilities to check on patients, after which they report back to the physician. The duties of physician assistants are determined by the supervising physician and by state laws.
Job Requirements
Physician aides must have a desire to serve patients and be self-motivated. Aspiring physician aides should investigate the laws and regulations of the state(s) in which they wish to practice. They must have emotional stability and the ability to make decisions in emergencies. Many physician aides work in primary care areas, such as family medicine, general practice or pediatrics. Others work in specialty areas, such as surgery, emergency medicine and geriatrics. Duties vary with the specialty. Physician aides specializing in surgery provide pre-operative and post-operative care and may work as first or second assistants during major surgery.
Nature of Work
Physician aides usually work in a comfortable, well-lit environment, but those in surgery often have to stand for long periods at a time. Those working in clinics usually work a standard 40-hour week, while physician aides in hospitals might have to work on weekends, nights or early mornings. They may work on call as well. Physician aides have to deal with unpleasant, angry or impolite patients. They are responsible for the health and safety of patients and are often confronted with difficult situations.
Area Job Conditions
Looking at physician aides per capita, Fayetteville (North Carolina), Greenville (North Carolina), and Casper (Wyoming) rise to the top of the list. New Orleans (Louisiana), Huntsville (Alabama), and Little Rock (Arkansas) have the fewest per capita.
The highest salaries for workers are in and around Ocala (Florida), Owensboro (Kentucky), and Sacramento (California). The lowest-paying areas are Memphis (Tennessee), St. George (Utah), and Little Rock (Arkansas).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Physician aides working less than full time, whether by design or chance, were 16% of the total. If you have this occupation and work on your own rather than for another company, you are part of the 2% of workers who do so.
Career Videos
Physician Aides by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $72,000 | 160 | -46% |
| Huntsville | $87,000 | 50 | -59% |
| Mobile | $77,000 | 80 | -22% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $98,000 | 340 | +249% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $83,000 | 1,080 | +1% |
| Tucson | $90,000 | 210 | +3% |
| Yuma | $92,000 | 50 | +68% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $58,000 | 40 | -81% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $98,000 | 170 | +10% |
| Chico | $87,000 | 90 | +136% |
| Fresno | $105,000 | 270 | +41% |
| Hanford | $92,000 | 50 | +188% |
| Los Angeles | $92,000 | 2,530 | +2% |
| Modesto | $104,000 | 80 | -11% |
| Oakland | $103,000 | 1,460 | +141% |
| Oxnard | $95,000 | 80 | -55% |
| Riverside | $85,000 | 840 | +15% |
| Sacramento | $100,000 | 620 | +18% |
| Salinas | $104,000 | 60 | -35% |
| San Diego | $88,000 | 1,070 | +34% |
| San Jose | $95,000 | 270 | -50% |
| San Luis Obispo | 130 | +150% | |
| Santa Ana | $94,000 | 500 | -44% |
| Santa Barbara | $105,000 | 80 | -18% |
| Santa Rosa | $88,000 | 170 | +68% |
| Stockton | $92,000 | 110 | -11% |
| Visalia | $106,000 | 60 | -22% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $85,000 | 110 | +24% |
| Colorado Springs | $78,000 | 220 | +47% |
| Denver | $87,000 | 860 | +13% |
| Fort Collins | $85,000 | 40 | -44% |
| Grand Junction | $81,000 | 50 | +63% |
| Greeley | $95,000 | 70 | +76% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $94,000 | 360 | +40% |
| Danbury | $98,000 | 90 | +142% |
| Hartford | $101,000 | 550 | +58% |
| New Haven | $100,000 | 350 | +116% |
| Norwich | $82,000 | 110 | +57% |
| Waterbury | $108,000 | 80 | +116% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $91,000 | 50 | +83% |
| Wilmington | $92,000 | 260 | +34% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $81,000 | 1,520 | +2% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $92,000 | 130 | +15% |
| Deltona | $102,000 | 70 | -21% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $80,000 | 320 | -24% |
| Gainesville | $85,000 | 90 | +30% |
| Jacksonville | $90,000 | 390 | +7% |
| Miami | $89,000 | 490 | -18% |
| Naples | 90 | +42% | |
| Ocala | $111,000 | 50 | +2% |
| Orlando | $90,000 | 320 | -48% |
| Palm Bay | $80,000 | 170 | +47% |
| Panama City | $84,000 | 40 | +6% |
| Pensacola | $80,000 | 80 | -7% |
| Port St Lucie | $78,000 | 50 | -26% |
| Sarasota | $79,000 | 270 | +85% |
| Tallahassee | $97,000 | 110 | +17% |
| Tampa | $83,000 | 350 | -50% |
| West Palm Beach | $119,000 | 140 | -55% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $83,000 | 1,270 | -10% |
| Augusta | $77,000 | 250 | +107% |
| Columbus | $91,000 | 130 | +107% |
| Gainesville | $119,000 | 60 | +57% |
| Macon | $83,000 | 120 | +137% |
| Rome | $92,000 | 40 | +123% |
| Savannah | $80,000 | 130 | +51% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $83,000 | 230 | -13% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $90,000 | 290 | +87% |
| Coeur Dalene | $96,000 | 50 | +86% |
| Idaho Falls | $97,000 | 100 | +306% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $89,000 | 50 | +30% |
| Champaign | $95,000 | 50 | -13% |
| Chicago | $65,000 | 930 | -60% |
| Peoria | $73,000 | 90 | -9% |
| Rockford | 140 | +73% | |
| Springfield | $74,000 | 100 | +64% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $82,000 | 100 | +0% |
| Fort Wayne | $70,000 | 110 | -8% |
| Gary | $83,000 | 100 | -38% |
| Indianapolis | $78,000 | 270 | -50% |
| Muncie | $89,000 | 50 | +109% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $84,000 | 60 | -25% |
| Davenport | $82,000 | 90 | -18% |
| Des Moines | $85,000 | 150 | -24% |
| Iowa City | $93,000 | 50 | +29% |
| Sioux City | $80,000 | 40 | +0% |
| Waterloo | $88,000 | 50 | +5% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $88,000 | 70 | +12% |
| Wichita | $77,000 | 310 | +81% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $76,000 | 200 | +40% |
| Louisville | $102,000 | 170 | -54% |
| Owensboro | $104,000 | 40 | +60% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $75,000 | 140 | -37% |
| Monroe | $62,000 | 70 | +66% |
| New Orleans | $67,000 | 170 | -47% |
| Shreveport | $77,000 | 120 | +14% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $84,000 | 100 | +201% |
| Lewiston | $90,000 | 100 | +273% |
| Portland | $82,000 | 250 | +112% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $98,000 | 1,260 | +58% |
| Bethesda | $101,000 | 540 | +54% |
| Hagerstown | $84,000 | 70 | +28% |
| Salisbury | $88,000 | 100 | +249% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $87,000 | 110 | +96% |
| Boston | $86,000 | 1,420 | +34% |
| Brockton | $95,000 | 40 | -21% |
| Framingham | $97,000 | 50 | -47% |
| Haverhill | $79,000 | 40 | -12% |
| Lowell | $85,000 | 60 | -13% |
| New Bedford | $105,000 | 40 | +13% |
| Springfield | $91,000 | 360 | +102% |
| Taunton | $92,000 | 60 | +155% |
| Worcester | $89,000 | 230 | +54% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $85,000 | 300 | +208% |
| Battle Creek | $87,000 | 70 | +154% |
| Bay City | $90,000 | 50 | +203% |
| Detroit | $91,000 | 550 | +36% |
| Flint | $94,000 | 190 | +154% |
| Grand Rapids | $82,000 | 390 | +72% |
| Holland | $70,000 | 90 | +66% |
| Kalamazoo | $84,000 | 70 | -11% |
| Lansing | $86,000 | 210 | +80% |
| Muskegon | $86,000 | 50 | +67% |
| Niles | $86,000 | 50 | +60% |
| Saginaw | $80,000 | 80 | +75% |
| Warren | $95,000 | 790 | +20% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $87,000 | 60 | -20% |
| Minneapolis | $88,000 | 790 | -27% |
| Rochester | $98,000 | 210 | +262% |
| St Cloud | $83,000 | 70 | +30% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $79,000 | 410 | -34% |
| Springfield | $76,000 | 50 | -55% |
| St Louis | $73,000 | 400 | -51% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $81,000 | 100 | +113% |
| Missoula | $97,000 | 30 | +7% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $77,000 | 120 | +29% |
| Omaha | $84,000 | 480 | +69% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $81,000 | 330 | -36% |
| Reno | $81,000 | 70 | -38% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $81,000 | 130 | +122% |
| Nashua | $90,000 | 70 | -12% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $95,000 | 70 | -17% |
| Camden | $96,000 | 170 | -46% |
| Edison | $94,000 | 360 | -42% |
| Newark | $93,000 | 400 | -34% |
| Trenton | $88,000 | 70 | -48% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $75,000 | 210 | -9% |
| Santa Fe | $86,000 | 60 | +78% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $86,000 | 510 | +87% |
| Binghamton | $84,000 | 70 | +9% |
| Buffalo | $79,000 | 360 | +8% |
| Elmira | $84,000 | 40 | +103% |
| Glens Falls | $83,000 | 120 | +330% |
| Kingston | $88,000 | 40 | +22% |
| Nassau | $95,000 | 1,970 | +155% |
| New York | $93,000 | 4,580 | +44% |
| Poughkeepsie | $94,000 | 200 | +37% |
| Rochester | $83,000 | 630 | +106% |
| Syracuse | $86,000 | 230 | +23% |
| Utica | $96,000 | 130 | +82% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $88,000 | 200 | +93% |
| Charlotte | $91,000 | 420 | -19% |
| Durham | $77,000 | 420 | +155% |
| Fayetteville | $88,000 | 230 | +217% |
| Goldsboro | $90,000 | 70 | +233% |
| Greensboro | $85,000 | 210 | -2% |
| Greenville | $84,000 | 110 | +197% |
| Hickory | $88,000 | 90 | +6% |
| Jacksonville | $88,000 | 30 | +35% |
| Raleigh | $88,000 | 430 | +38% |
| Rocky Mount | $91,000 | 50 | +60% |
| Wilmington | $86,000 | 150 | +90% |
| Winston Salem | $87,000 | 310 | +149% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $77,000 | 120 | +72% |
| Grand Forks | $75,000 | 40 | +57% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $76,000 | 160 | -17% |
| Cincinnati | $83,000 | 300 | -51% |
| Cleveland | $83,000 | 590 | -5% |
| Columbus | $87,000 | 400 | -29% |
| Dayton | $86,000 | 270 | +17% |
| Lima | $82,000 | 50 | +80% |
| Mansfield | $86,000 | 40 | +45% |
| Toledo | $84,000 | 60 | -66% |
| Youngstown | $83,000 | 80 | -40% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton | $82,000 | 40 | +88% |
| Oklahoma City | $75,000 | 500 | +43% |
| Tulsa | $73,000 | 420 | +62% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $102,000 | 110 | +35% |
| Medford | $95,000 | 60 | +40% |
| Portland | $104,000 | 440 | -29% |
| Salem | $82,000 | 80 | -8% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $61,000 | 470 | +126% |
| Altoona | $74,000 | 60 | +82% |
| Erie | $63,000 | 170 | +130% |
| Harrisburg | $73,000 | 290 | +51% |
| Johnstown | $71,000 | 60 | +99% |
| Lancaster | $67,000 | 160 | +15% |
| Lebanon | $77,000 | 50 | +109% |
| Philadelphia | $63,000 | 1,450 | +24% |
| Pittsburgh | $74,000 | 900 | +29% |
| Reading | $78,000 | 130 | +34% |
| Scranton | $71,000 | 200 | +29% |
| State College | $52,000 | 150 | +340% |
| Williamsport | $80,000 | 50 | +82% |
| York | $70,000 | 150 | +45% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $85,000 | 290 | -14% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $81,000 | 120 | -30% |
| Columbia | $81,000 | 110 | -48% |
| Greenville | $67,000 | 120 | -33% |
| Myrtle Beach | $82,000 | 50 | -19% |
| Spartanburg | $78,000 | 60 | -9% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $83,000 | 80 | +131% |
| Sioux Falls | $83,000 | 120 | +49% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $121,000 | 140 | +4% |
| Clarksville | $82,000 | 40 | -8% |
| Johnson City | $81,000 | 30 | -24% |
| Kingsport | $83,000 | 70 | +1% |
| Knoxville | $96,000 | 400 | +100% |
| Memphis | $104,000 | 90 | -76% |
| Nashville | $82,000 | 700 | +56% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $136,000 | 40 | -34% |
| Austin | $86,000 | 390 | -18% |
| Brownsville | $124,000 | 40 | -47% |
| College Station | $89,000 | 50 | -4% |
| Corpus Christi | $87,000 | 60 | -43% |
| Dallas | $93,000 | 1,040 | -19% |
| El Paso | $72,000 | 120 | -26% |
| Fort Worth | $92,000 | 210 | -60% |
| Houston | $112,000 | 1,070 | -33% |
| Killeen | $93,000 | 120 | +62% |
| Longview | $80,000 | 60 | +12% |
| Lubbock | $117,000 | 60 | -17% |
| Mcallen | $90,000 | 100 | -26% |
| San Antonio | $97,000 | 350 | -34% |
| Tyler | $111,000 | 120 | +137% |
| Victoria | $57,000 | 40 | +58% |
| Wichita Falls | $103,000 | 30 | +1% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $103,000 | 150 | +28% |
| Provo | $86,000 | 60 | -40% |
| Salt Lake City | $86,000 | 330 | -10% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $87,000 | 90 | +41% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $71,000 | 40 | -17% |
| Lynchburg | $70,000 | 60 | +7% |
| Richmond | $73,000 | 290 | -22% |
| Roanoke | $80,000 | 120 | +33% |
| Virginia Beach | $77,000 | 340 | -26% |
| Winchester | $87,000 | 60 | +127% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton | $105,000 | 40 | -13% |
| Kennewick | $88,000 | 50 | -12% |
| Longview | $108,000 | 30 | +79% |
| Mount Vernon | $88,000 | 30 | +29% |
| Olympia | $97,000 | 50 | -10% |
| Seattle | $100,000 | 870 | +2% |
| Tacoma | $102,000 | 300 | +90% |
| Wenatchee | $91,000 | 50 | +149% |
| Yakima | $86,000 | 60 | +29% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $77,000 | 200 | +137% |
| Huntington | $85,000 | 50 | -23% |
| Morgantown | 90 | +216% | |
| Parkersburg | $91,000 | 40 | +7% |
| Wheeling | $73,000 | 60 | +69% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $100,000 | 50 | -24% |
| Eau Claire | 30 | -26% | |
| Green Bay | $97,000 | 100 | +2% |
| Janesville | $89,000 | 30 | -13% |
| Madison | $80,000 | 230 | +13% |
| Milwaukee | $92,000 | 510 | +1% |
| Racine | $130,000 | 40 | -3% |
| Wausau | $94,000 | 30 | -17% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | $105,000 | 50 | +168% |