What's the median PA salary? How much does PA compensation vary by specialty? Get the answers and more with these top-level findings from AAPA's 2013 Salary Report.

1. Highlights of the
2013 AAPA
Salary Report

2. A Nationwide Survey of Physician Assistants
AAPA administered an online survey of U.S. physician assistants (PAs) from March to July
2013.
More than 18,000 AAPA members and nonmembers responded. The sample closely resembles
the PA population, with an overrepresentation of responses from AAPA members. Margin of
error for the survey: <1 percent.
Survey responses were de-identified and analyzed in aggregate form. Highlights from the salary
data are presented here.
For more information, please contact:
Brooke Braun
Vice President, Communications and External Relations
American Academy of Physician Assistants
bbraun@aapa.org, Phone: 571 319 4378
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3. PAs Who Receive Bonuses Have Higher Overall Compensation
PAs who receive a bonus earn, on average, $10,000 more per year
than those who do not receive bonus pay.
Across practice settings and specialties, nearly half of PAs
(46 percent) receive a bonus in addition to base salary.
Bonuses are determined by outcomes such as performance,
productivity, profit-sharing and quality improvement.
Nationwide Median Compensation for PAs
PAs earning base salary only:
PAs earning base salary plus bonus:
$90,000
$100,000
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4. Most PAs Are Paid an Annual Salary, Not an Hourly Wage
Predominant Form of Base Pay From
Primary Clinical Employer
Seventy-five percent of PAs report that they are paid
an annual salary.
The remaining 25 percent of PAs are paid an hourly
wage (22 percent) or based on productivity
determined via relative value units (RVUs), charges or
collections (3 percent).
PAs working in emergency departments or
freestanding urgent care facilities are far more likely to
be paid an hourly wage than PAs in other practice
settings; 66 percent and 54 percent, respectively.
3%
22%
75%
Salary
Hourly Wage
Productivity
The comprehensive 2013 AAPA Salary Report is available at
www.aapa.org/salaryreport and is free for AAPA members.
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5. PA Compensation Varies by Specialty
Median Annual PA Compensation by Specialty Area
$100,000
$90,000
National Median
Surgery
$105,000
$95,000
Other Specialties
$105,000
$92,000
$103,000
$90,365
Pediatrics
$95,000
$90,000
Internal Medicine
*
$94,000
$85,000
Primary Care
$0
$40,000
Salary plus bonus
$80,000
$120,000
Salary only
*Primary care includes Family Medicine with and without urgent care,
General Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics, and Obstetrics/Gynecology.
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6. PA Compensation in the Largest U.S. Metropolitan Areas
U.S. Metropolitan Area
Median Compensation
Salary Only
Median Compensation
Salary Plus Bonus
New York
$93,300
$105,000
Los Angeles
$97,000
$103,250
Houston
$95,500
$103,000
Dallas
$96,500
$102,500
Boston
$92,700
$102,000
Philadelphia
$85,000
$100,900
Washington, D.C.
$90,000
$100,000
Atlanta
$94,200
$96,000
Chicago
$87,500
$95,000
Miami
$89,000
$93,000
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7. PA Compensation Varies by Type of Employer
Median Annual PA Compensation by Major Employer Type
Hospital (Nonteaching)
$103,000
$95,000
University Hospital
$102,000
$93,000
Multi-Specialty Practice Group
$100,000
$91,400
Single Specialty Practice Group
$100,000
$89,000
$98,000
Solo Physician Practice
$85,000
$0
$40,000
Salary plus bonus
$80,000
$120,000
Salary only
The comprehensive 2013 AAPA Salary Report is available at
www.aapa.org/salaryreport and is free for AAPA members.
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8. PA Compensation Increases With Years of Experience
Median Annual PA Compensation by Years of Experience
Percentage of PAs by
Years of Experience
$90,000
$84,000
4 Years or fewer
$100,000
$90,000
5 to 9 years
$108,500
$98,000
10 to 14 years
16.8%
8.7%
33.6%
17.0%
23.7%
$111,000
$98,000
15 to 19 years
4 years or fewer
$110,000
$100,454
20 or more years
5-9 years
10-14 years
15-19 years
$0
$40,000
Salary plus bonus
$80,000
$120,000
20 or more years
Salary only
The comprehensive 2013 AAPA Salary Report is available at
www.aapa.org/salaryreport and is free for AAPA members.
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9. Benefits Commonly Provided to PAs
•
62.2 percent of PAs report their employer pays all of their state license
fees. Most PAs receive at least some employer funds to cover license fees.
•
71.4 percent of PAs say their professional development (PD) allowance
covers CME expenses. The median annual PD allowance is $2,000.
•
The median number of paid vacation days provided to PAs is 20.
•
The median number of paid sick days provided to PAs is 7.
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10. Ready to see the Full Report?
The full report includes comprehensive national and state data about
physician assistant salaries and benefits in all settings.
• AAPA members can download a FREE copy of the 2013 AAPA
Salary Report at aapa.org/salaryreport.
• If you are not an AAPA member, join now.
• For media inquiries, write to pdunne@aapa.org.