Physician Assistant Salaries in 2025: Insights from the AAPA Salary Report

Understanding PA Compensation in 2024

This year's AAPA Salary Report offers a detailed snapshot of the Physician Assistant (PA) profession's earning landscape. This annual report, compiled from responses by thousands of certified PAs across the United States, breaks down salary trends by experience, location, specialty, and setting. For both aspiring PAs and practicing professionals, it’s an essential resource for career planning, negotiation, and financial benchmarking.

Why the AAPA Salary Report Matters

The AAPA Salary Report does more than summarize income. It informs critical decisions around job offers, relocations, and specialty selection. For PA students and recent graduates, the data helps shape realistic expectations and guide professional goals. For current PAs, the report is a valuable tool when advocating for raises, bonuses, or better benefits.

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PA Salaries by Experience

Entry-Level (0–1 Year)

Median Salary: $110,000
10th Percentile: $93,000
90th Percentile: $130,000

Even at the start of their careers, PAs earn a competitive income thanks to growing demand and a versatile scope of practice.

Mid-Level (2–4 Years)

Median Salary: $115,000
10th Percentile: $97,000
90th Percentile: $140,000

This modest but meaningful increase reflects the added value and proficiency experienced PAs bring to healthcare teams.

Bonus Compensation Adds Value

Bonuses for 0–1 Year PAs

Median Bonus: $5,000
Range: $500 to $15,000

Bonuses for 2–4 Year PAs

Median Bonus: $5,000
Range: $1,000 to $20,750

These bonuses are often tied to performance, patient volume, or specialty—highlighting how excellence is rewarded in the PA profession.

Highest-Paid PA Specialties in 2024

Surgical Subspecialties: $128,000 salary | $7,000 bonus
Emergency Medicine: $127,148 salary | $8,000 bonus
Dermatology: $126,000 salary | $6,000 bonus
Critical Care: $125,000 salary | $6,500 bonus
Orthopedics: $124,500 salary | $7,500 bonus

These high-paying specialties typically involve advanced procedures, acute care responsibilities, and high patient volumes.

Geographic Trends in PA Salaries

PAs in urban and high-demand states consistently earn more. Cost of living and healthcare workforce shortages shape these salary differentials:

Top States for PA Salaries (2024 estimates):

California
Washington
New Jersey
Alaska
Texas

Those open to relocation can leverage regional disparities to boost earnings or access specialty roles.

How Reliable Is the AAPA Data?

The AAPA acknowledges its data is self-reported but ensures accuracy by cross-referencing with third-party sources like:

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – Employer-reported salary data
Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) – Peer-reviewed reports
Annual AAPA Survey Audits – Consistency checks across years

Inclusion of bonus compensation, benefits, and specialty-specific details gives the AAPA Salary Report greater depth than most public data sets.

Using the Report for Salary Negotiations

PAs can use AAPA salary benchmarks when evaluating job offers, discussing contract renewals, or negotiating raises. Understanding where your salary falls relative to the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles—especially within your specialty and region—is a powerful leverage point.

Career Planning Based on Salary Trends

Choose High-Demand Specialties

Specializing in emergency medicine, surgical subspecialties, or dermatology can significantly improve earning potential. Many of these roles also offer higher bonuses and opportunities for autonomy.

Evaluate Geographic Relocation

States with fewer licensed PAs may offer signing bonuses or better compensation. Rural regions with acute healthcare shortages also present strong job prospects for early-career PAs.

Consider the Employment Setting

Hospitals and academic medical centers tend to offer higher pay and professional development. Outpatient centers often provide work-life balance, though they may pay slightly less.

Comparing AAPA to U.S. News Salary Data

Source	Median Salary	Top 25%	Bottom 25%
AAPA 2024	$125,000	$140,000	$100,000
U.S. News (2022)	$126,010	$140,660	$104,240

Both sources suggest PAs earn well across the board. AAPA goes further by detailing bonuses and experience-based differentials, offering deeper guidance for career decisions.

NP vs. PA Salaries

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and PAs often earn similar base salaries:

NP Median (BLS 2023): $121,610
PA Median (AAPA 2024): $125,000

However, PA salaries tend to trend higher in surgical and emergency specialties, while NPs excel in family medicine and women’s health. Scope of practice laws and setting also affect income.

Work-Life Balance and Job Satisfaction

Beyond salary, consider the broader picture:

Burnout Prevention: Evaluate patient volume, schedule flexibility, and mental health support.
Professional Development: Seek employers who support CME, specialty certifications, or leadership tracks.
Telemedicine Growth: Offers flexibility and new revenue models for PAs seeking work-from-home or hybrid opportunities.

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Final Takeaway

The 2024 AAPA Salary Report confirms what many in the profession already know—being a Physician Assistant is not only personally fulfilling but also financially rewarding. Whether you're negotiating your first job, switching specialties, or exploring new locations, this data equips you to advocate for the compensation and career path you deserve.

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