Physician Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioner vs. Registered Nurse
Common clinical career paths that differ in training length, licensing, and pay.
Short answer: Physician assistants have the highest national median wage of the group at $135,880 (May 2025). Nurse practitioners are projected to grow fastest, +41.0% from 2025 to 2035. Physician assistants typically enter with master's degree; Nurse practitioners typically enter with master's degree; Registered nurses typically enter with bachelor's degree.
| Measure | Physician assistants | Nurse practitioners | Registered nurses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage (May 2025) | $135,880 | $132,300 | $97,550 |
| 10th percentile wage | $99,380 | $101,340 | $68,940 |
| 90th percentile wage | $190,280 | $174,420 | $137,470 |
| Employment (May 2025) | 162,150 | 323,040 | 3,379,720 |
| Projected change, 2025 to 2035 | +21.1% | +41.0% | +5.6% |
| Openings per year | 11,500 | 29,400 | 180,800 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Related work experience | None | None | None |
| On-the-job training | None | None | None |
| O*NET Job Zone (1 to 5) | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Self-employed share | 1.4% | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Top skills | Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Writing | Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Writing | Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension |
| Licenses and certifications in our library | CT-PHYSICIAN-ASSISTANT, PANCE | None listed | CT-REGISTERED-NURSE, NCLEX-RN |
Wages Verified data describe all workers in each occupation, not starting pay. Growth and openings are Official projection. Highlighted cells mark the highest median wage and fastest projected growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: National Center for O*NET Development for USDOL/ETA, O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026 release). Database release 31.0, August 2026; element dates vary by occupation. Published August 25, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.