Dermatology Physician Assistants Make the Big Bucks

As the nationwide interest in becoming a physician assistant grows, so does the salary. According to a report from the National Commission of Physician Assistants, specialized physician assistants (PAs) earned on average over $104,000 in 2016. That’s a nearly 2 percent increase from 2015, when the average salary was $102,000, and an even greater jump from 2014’s average yearly wage of $98,000. Those high figures are attracting more young people to the field. According to Forbes, in 2010, there were 80,019 PAs and in 2016 that number grew to 115,547 — a 44 percent jump.

The vast majority of non-primary care PAs work in private practice settings (42.2 percent) and only 3.4 percent are based in community health clinics. PAs are spread across all specialties, with general surgery, orthopedic surgery, and pediatrics being some of the most common. Only 3.9 percent of certified PAs specialize in dermatology, and 81.4 percent of them are female and 18.6 percent are male.

According to the report, in many states including California, Texas, Illinois, and South Carolina, the number of dermatology PAs per 100,000 patients is below the U.S. rate. Nearly all dermatology PAs work in private practices (92.6 percent) and a mere 3.8 percent work in hospitals.

However, dermatology PAs are greatly valued in their clinics and hospitals. Around 72 percent provide “diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute illnesses,” and for chronic illnesses, that figure is 64 percent. The average salary for a dermatology PA is $118,145, which is higher than some other specialties. That income is useful for paying off student loans, as the average dermatology PA has on average $106,223 in student loan debt.