The physician assistant workforce in the U.S. surpassed 201,000 for the first time in 2025, according to the National Commission on Certification of PAs’ 2025 Statistical Profile of Board Certified PAs.
The report, released May 13, found the number of board-certified PAs reached 201,038 at the end of 2025, up 5.9% from 2024 and more than double the 95,583 board-certified PAs reported in 2013.
Here are five notes from the report:
1. There were 59 PAs per 100,000 people nationwide in 2025, up from 48 per 100,000 in 2021. Pennsylvania had the highest concentration of PAs at 97.6 per 100,000 residents, followed by Connecticut (97.4) and Alaska (96.7). Mississippi had the lowest concentration at 16.5 per 100,000 residents, followed by Arkansas (25.7) and Alabama (28.8).
2. New York had the largest number of board-certified PAs in 2025 at 17,975, followed by California (15,898), Florida (13,298), Texas (12,969) and Pennsylvania (12,743).
3. The PA profession grew 26.9% between 2021 and 2025. South Carolina saw the largest increase in PAs during that period at 44.4%, followed by Mississippi (42.9%) and Hawaii (41.5%).
4. More than half of PAs — 52.7% — said they have changed specialties at least once during their careers. The mean number of specialty changes was 1.2, while the median was 1.0.
5. Mean income for PAs reached $134,010 in 2025, up 14.2% from 2021 and 40.2% from 2013. The median income was $125,000.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.