Physician assistant compensation rose in 2024 for the second consecutive year, according to Medscape‘s 2025 Physician Assistant Compensation Report.
The report is based on survey insights from 2,066 practicing PAs across more than 29 specialties collected between Nov. 25, 2024, and Feb. 28, 2025.
Nine report findings:
1. Total annual compensation for PAs was $142,000 in 2024, largely driven by increases in productivity and incentive payments.
2. Total compensation was up 5% on average from the year prior, following a 7% increase seen in 2023.
3. A majority of PAs (85%) said they expected year-end compensation to rise by less than 11% or stay flat.
4. Fifty-six percent of PAs said they felt fairly paid in 2025, up from 53% in 2024. For comparison, 47% of physicians and 52% of registered nurses reported the same to Medscape.
5. The gender pay gap between male and female PAs was about 13% in 2025, with men reporting $161,000 in average compensation and women reporting $143,000.
6. PAs working in hospital critical care or intensive care unit settings reported the highest total annual compensation at $175,000, followed by private industry settings ($171,000) and operating room or surgical settings ($165,000).
7. PAs in the West reported the highest annual compensation at $160,000, while PAs in the Midwest reported the lowest at $142,000.
8. About half of PAs reported being eligible for bonuses, with average bonus amounts totaling $8,000.
9. Fifty-seven percent of PAs were salaried, while 22% were paid through a salary and productivity pay structure, and 14% were paid hourly.
