Nurse Anesthetists vs Physician Assistants
Median pay is about $101k higher for Nurse Anesthetists. Both usually start with the same education: master's.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Nurse Anesthetists | Physician Assistants |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $236,590, higher | $135,880 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $206,730, higher | $120,670 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $294,350, higher | $163,980 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +9.7% Growing fast | +21% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 2,400 | 11,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Master's | Master's |
| Difficulty modeled | 4.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very low | Very low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 38th pct | 28th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, speaking, active learning, monitoring.
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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.