Family Physician vs. Physician Assistant vs. Pharmacist
Healthcare paths with different training lengths and costs.
Short answer: Family medicine physicians have the highest national median wage of the group at $244,180 (May 2025). Physician assistants are projected to grow fastest, +21.1% from 2025 to 2035. Family medicine physicians typically enter with doctoral or professional degree; Physician assistants typically enter with master's degree; Pharmacists typically enter with doctoral or professional degree.
| Measure | Family medicine physicians | Physician assistants | Pharmacists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage (May 2025) | $244,180 | $135,880 | $140,910 |
| 10th percentile wage | $76,830 | $99,380 | $99,290 |
| 90th percentile wage | $428,550 | $190,280 | $174,230 |
| Employment (May 2025) | 107,510 | 162,150 | 321,970 |
| Projected change, 2025 to 2035 | +3.3% | +21.1% | +5.2% |
| Openings per year | 2,900 | 11,500 | 12,500 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Master's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Related work experience | None | None | None |
| On-the-job training | Internship/residency | None | None |
| O*NET Job Zone (1 to 5) | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Self-employed share | 3.8% | 1.4% | 0.3% |
| Top skills | Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing | Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Writing | Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing |
| Licenses and certifications in our library | USMLE | CT-PHYSICIAN-ASSISTANT, PANCE | None listed |
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.