Diagnostic Medical Sonographers vs Physician Assistants
Median pay is about $39k higher for Physician Assistants. The usual entry education is associate's for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers 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 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | Physician Assistants |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $96,590 | $135,880, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $80,430 | $120,670, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $106,930 | $163,980, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +14% Growing fast | +21% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 6,000 | 11,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Associate's | Master's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Very low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 14th pct | 28th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking, monitoring, active learning.
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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.