Attracting top-level Physician Assistant talent can be challenging in today’s market, where demand often outpaces available candidates. That is why having a competitive compensation package is vital if you want to hire and retain Physician Assistants in the in-demand specialties of Family Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Gastroenterology₁.    

Signing Bonuses- An aggressive signing bonus can go a long way when trying to attract in-demand PA’s. These bonuses are quickly becoming a mainstay in competitive compensation packages, with nearly half of all Advanced Practitioners reporting receipt of one during their recruitment process₁. Trends show that these bonuses are on the rise, with current offers averaging $15,000 for Advanced Practitioners₁.

Competitive Salaries- According to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, today’s Physician Assistants can expect to make a median salary of $115,000 annually with specialty work demanding even higher salaries₂.

Primary Care- Nearly a quarter of all Physician Assistants work in Primary Care specialties providing critical services to diverse patient populations₂. Many of these PA’s have chosen to work in the areas of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine.

• Family Medicine-According to the results of an NCCPA Physician Assistant Specialty Salary Survey, most Family Med PA’s work in both rural and urban practices settings, seeing an average of 80 patients a week₂. Salary expectations for PA’s working full-time in this specialty average $103,000 annually.
• Internal Medicine- IM Physician Assistants help provide general medical care to adult populations diagnosed with a variety of acute and long-term medical issues. These PA’s report seeing an average of 70 patients a week while earning around $102,000 annually₂.

Hospital Medicine- Hospital Medicine is a relatively new medical field for PA practice that has increased considerably in popularity due to inpatient Physician shortages. While only a limited number of Physician Assistants currently work in this specialty, those who do average $111,000 a year in compensation, seeing about 50 patients a week₂.   

Emergency Medicine- Physician Assistants working in Emergency Medicine make some of the highest salaries found outside of the operating room, averaging $123,000 a year₂. Although these PA’s often enjoy fewer working days a month compared to their colleagues, due to their longer shifts, they often see more patients averaging around 80 a week₂.

Gastroenterology- The care of diseases related to the gastrointestinal track provide a healthy income for PA’s that choose to make gastroenterology their specialty of choice. GI Physician Assistants make around $100,000 annually while seeing an average of 60 patients a week₂.