Tips On How To Increase Your Salary As A Physician Assistant
By James Cardone
Submitted 2012-01-26 19:58:25
Total Word Count: 770 Number Of Times Read: 13
Job opportunities are scarce due to the economy. It is crucial to choose a career path with a high earning potential to be successful. The medical industry is one of the best career path to be involved in. Job growth in the medical field is continually growing despite the economy. Becoming a physician assistant is a wise career choice to get into. A physician assistant is an authorized practitioner of medicine practicing under the supervision of a doctor.
In addition, the physician assistant salary is very attractive. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this career field is expected to increase up to 40% by 2018 opening up many opportunities for both graduates and experienced physician assistants. The average salary for a physician assistant in the United States is currently at $65,000 per year. A physician assistant salary can vary significantly, as there are many factors to take into consideration. The amount of clinical experience is the most important factor. The physician assistant salary of a new graduate is $60,000 to $75,000 per year compared to a physician assistant with ten years experience can make $75,000 to 95,000 per year.
Your specialty is another important factor that can affect your salary. The top paying specialties are Cardiovascular, Emergency Medicine and Dermatology which all round out to about $100,000 per year. Specialties such as Endocrinology and Public Health are among the lowest paid of about $80,000 per year.
The state and city you live in can also affect your rate of pay. New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston are some of the highest paying cities for physician assistants. Due to fewer demand for physician assistants in the rural areas such as Arkansas, they tend to pay lower on average. In the top paying cities, there is a higher cost of living and thus, the higher rate of pay and a larger job market. The job market in the rural areas is much smaller and therefore, the competition is stiffer in getting a good job.
In addition, your salary can vary depending on which type of facility that you work in. Physician assistants working at a hospital tend to receive a lower salary then those working at private clinics. For example, the mean salary for those working in large medical practices is over $100,000 per year and in contrast, the mean salary for those working in hospitals is around $90,000 per year. Also, keep in mind that the type of doctor that you work with will affect your salary. A physician assistant working with a doctor specialized in trauma and emergency medicine earn the most at $80,000, while with a doctor specialized in obstetrics and pediatrics around $65,000 per year.
Knowing the factors that affect your physician assistant salary, you can use them to your advantage. Having the most recent and updated certifications for your physician assistant degree can command a higher rate of pay. Your education is very important in determining what your salary cap will be. Also, as you gain more experience, your salary will improve.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.lodester.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Submitted 2012-01-26 19:58:25
Print Article
