Anesthesiologists vs Physician Assistants
Median pay is about $256k higher for Anesthesiologists. The usual entry education is doctoral (MD) plus residency for Anesthesiologists and master's for Physician Assistants.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Anesthesiologists | Physician Assistants |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $391,490, higher | $135,880 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $207,000, higher | $120,670 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $490,530, higher | $163,980 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +3.6% Growing | +21% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 1,100 | 11,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Doctoral (MD) plus residency | Master's |
| Difficulty modeled | 4.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Very low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 56th pct | 28th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Anesthesiologists
- Writing
- Science
Only Physician Assistants
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Both lean on critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.