Emergency medicine has the highest physician associate pay with a median annual compensation of $146,000, well above the national median of $134,000, according to the 2025 American Academy of Physician Associates Salary Survey.
Data for the report draws from a survey of 9,789 non-retired PAs in the U.S. between Jan. 14 and Feb. 28, 2025.
Here’s how median pay breaks down by specialty for PAs’ main role:
Emergency medicine: $146,000
Surgical subspecialties: $136,000
Other specialties: $135,000
National total: $134,000
No medical specialty: $133,310
Pediatric subspecialties: $132,000
Internal medicine subspecialties: $131,000
Primary care: $125,850
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