Item saved to your backpack!

A physician assistant works alongside doctors and surgeons to provide basic medical services to patients, such as taking medical histories, examining patients, ordering tests, making a diagnosis and, depending on where you live, prescribing medications. State law determines what a physician assistant's duties can be, but they always work under direct supervision of a physician.

State law also determines what educational requirements are in place before a licensing exam may be taken. While the training can vary, most students who apply for training already have a college degree, or some college, and many have worked in the health care field in some capacity. Physician assistant training usually takes about two years, if attended full-time.

As is the case with many health care careers, the outlook for employment as a physician assistant is expected to grow much faster than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment to grow 39 percent over the 2008-2018 time frame. So career opportunities are good, but what was the average physician assistant salary in 2009?

Physician Assistant Salary: 2009 Data

The mean annual wage in May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $84,830. Salary.com reports a similar median annual wage of $87,504. Where you live and what field of medicine you work in can greatly affect your income. For instance, the BLS' top paying industries for a physician assistant are:

• Employment services: $104,780
• Residential mental retardation, mental health and substance abuse facilities: $103,520
• Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals: $90,940
• Outpatient care centers: $87,060
• General medical and surgical hospitals: $86,850

The top three highest paying states for a physician assistant during that same time were Nevada ($103,500); Washington ($98,880); and Connecticut ($96,380). The top three highest paying metropolitan areas were Chattanooga, TN-GA ($142,220); Racine, WI ($124,930); and Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI ($121,270).

Nevada has the 31st lowest cost of living in the United States, making it one of the most attractive states for those seeking work as a physician assistant, based on mean annual wages and how expensive it is to live there. Of the remaining top three states that pay the highest wages for this career, Washington has the 37^th highest cost of living out of the 50 states, and Connecticut has the 45^th, according to data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center from the third quarter of 2010.

Physician Assistant Training Online

Once you determine your state's requirements for becoming licensed as a physician assistant, consider how you might advance your career and salary opportunities by getting your physician assistant training online. There are programs available for most levels of training--with many master's degree programs--so getting a higher level of education is convenient and something you can do on your own schedule. To pass examination by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, which is required for state licensing, students must have time in the lab, but to receive advanced training, and oftentimes continuing education credits, physician assistant training online can fit the bill.