Career Paths From Physician Assistants

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Nurse PractitionersLateral Move96.5% skill match
Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Nurse Practitioners sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$132,300
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Family Medicine PhysiciansLateral Move97.6% skill match
Physician Assistants and Family Medicine Physicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Family Medicine Physicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 80% higher.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$244,180
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
General Internal Medicine PhysiciansLateral Move98.4% skill match
Physician Assistants and General Internal Medicine Physicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). General Internal Medicine Physicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 89% higher.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$256,560
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Pediatricians, GeneralLateral Move97.2% skill match
Physician Assistants and Pediatricians, General share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Pediatricians, General sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 55% higher.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$210,040
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
NeurologistsLateral Move98.1% skill match
Physician Assistants and Neurologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Neurologists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 83% higher.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$248,560
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Nurse MidwivesLateral Move97.9% skill match
Physician Assistants and Nurse Midwives share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Nurse Midwives sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$134,040
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
DermatologistsLateral Move96.8% skill match
Physician Assistants and Dermatologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Dermatologists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 142% higher.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$328,730
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Occupational TherapistsLateral Move97.9% skill match
Physician Assistants and Occupational Therapists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Occupational Therapists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 26% lower.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$100,330
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryCareer Change97.3% skill match
Physician Assistants and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 41% lower.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$80,250
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
PharmacistsLateral Move96.4% skill match
Physician Assistants and Pharmacists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Pharmacists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% higher.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$140,910
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, PostsecondaryCareer Change97% skill match
Physician Assistants and Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 43% lower.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$77,270
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Medical DosimetristsLateral Move97.8% skill match
Physician Assistants and Medical Dosimetrists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Medical Dosimetrists sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (4 vs 5). Median salary is about 9% higher.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$147,470
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
4
Special Education Teachers, PreschoolCareer Change96.9% skill match
Physician Assistants and Special Education Teachers, Preschool share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Special Education Teachers, Preschool is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 52% lower.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$64,830
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, PostsecondaryCareer Change96.7% skill match
Physician Assistants and Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 44% lower.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$75,870
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5
Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryCareer Change98% skill match
Physician Assistants and Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 68% lower.
Current median salary
$135,880
Target median salary
$42,910
Current Job Zone
5
Target Job Zone
5

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.