MONEY Magazine's Best Jobs: Physician assistant

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MONEY Magazine and Salary.com rate careers on salary and job prospects.

Physician assistant

Rank: 5 of 50

GRADES:

Stress: C / Flexibility: B / Creativity: B / Difficulty: C

Average pay: $75,117
	Salary	Total compensation (includes bonus)
75% in this career make more than:	$68,872	$68,907
50% in this career make more than:	$74,883	$74,942
25% in this career make more than:	$81,332	$81,413
Top potential compensation (5% make more):		$93,474

10-year job growth: 49.65%
Total jobs 2004:	61,963
Forecast 2014:	92,726
Average annual growth (including new jobs and net replacement):	4,028

Career description

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants. Exclude Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics (29-2041), Medical Assistants (31-9092), and Registered Nurses (29-1111).

Top 10: Highest-paying careers
	Average salary
Chief Executives	$254,643
Physician/Surgeon	$247,536
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons	$211,766
Lawyer	$153,923
Sales manager	$135,903
Financial services sales agents	$130,385
Financial managers	$128,910
Dentist	$122,883
Financial advisor	$122,462
Natural sciences managers	$116,504

Top 10: Fastest-growing fields
	Job growth
Physician assistant	49.65%
Software engineer	46.07%
Physical therapist assistants	44.20%
Dental hygienists	43.32%
Physical therapist	36.74%
Forensic science technicians	36.40%
Computer/IT analyst	36.10%
Veterinary technologists and technicians	35.32%
Occupational therapist assistants	34.10%
Medical scientist	34.06%

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