Physician assistant (PA): graduate earnings, debt, and careers
Physician assistant master's programs are reported within Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (CIP 51.09). That family also includes other allied health programs, so these figures are the closest official grouping, not a PA-only result.
Median earnings, 1 yr after
$113,770
Master's degree Verified data
Median earnings, 4 yrs after
$127,347
Verified data
Typical program median debt
Data unavailable
federal loans Data unavailable
Programs reporting
494
14,685 recent graduates Verified data
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's degree | 494 | 14,685 | $113,770 | $127,347 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University CA · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $162,219 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Carlow University PA · Private, nonprofit · 31 graduates measured | $160,080 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Mercy University NY · Private, nonprofit · 43 graduates measured | $148,070 | $153,317 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY York College NY · Public · 44 graduates measured | $146,511 | $146,487 | Data unavailable |
| New York Institute of Technology NY · Private, nonprofit · 95 graduates measured | $146,451 | $148,988 | Data unavailable |
| Samuel Merritt University CA · Private, nonprofit · 86 graduates measured | $145,651 | $144,577 | Data unavailable |
| California State University-Monterey Bay CA · Public · 51 graduates measured | $145,281 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Dominican University of California CA · Private, nonprofit · 45 graduates measured | $144,500 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Hofstra University NY · Private, nonprofit · 113 graduates measured | $144,441 | $148,980 | Data unavailable |
| University of the Pacific CA · Private, nonprofit · 83 graduates measured | $141,778 | $162,982 | Data unavailable |
| Upstate Medical University NY · Public · 39 graduates measured | $141,541 | $142,670 | Data unavailable |
| Sacred Heart University CT · Private, nonprofit · 75 graduates measured | $138,700 | $145,964 | Data unavailable |
| Quinnipiac University CT · Private, nonprofit · 101 graduates measured | $137,515 | $140,822 | Data unavailable |
| Pace University NY · Private, nonprofit · 203 graduates measured | $137,438 | $159,314 | Data unavailable |
| Touro University NY · Private, nonprofit · 263 graduates measured | $137,060 | $159,250 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear technicians | $110,240 | +1.1% | Associate's degree |
| Occupational health and safety technicians | $61,560 | +19.4% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | $107,310 | +17.9% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Physician assistants | $135,880 | +21.1% | Master's degree |
| Radiation therapists | $105,310 | +2.8% | Associate's degree |
| Respiratory therapists | $82,280 | +8.5% | Associate's degree |
| Cardiovascular technologists and technicians | $74,310 | +3.7% | Associate's degree |
| Diagnostic medical sonographers | $96,590 | +13.9% | Associate's degree |
| Nuclear medicine technologists | $101,370 | +4.4% | Associate's degree |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $80,110 | +5.0% | Associate's degree |
| Magnetic resonance imaging technologists | $95,480 | +7.7% | Associate's degree |
| Medical dosimetrists | $147,470 | +5.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Emergency medical technicians | $44,470 | +5.8% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Paramedics | $60,600 | +5.7% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Surgical technologists | $64,650 | +5.0% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Hearing aid specialists | $65,160 | +19.4% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Health technologists and technicians, all other | $50,290 | +5.9% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Athletic trainers | $62,520 | +12.7% | Master's degree |
| Surgical assistants | $66,800 | +6.1% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
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.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (24)
- 51.0901 Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist
- 51.0902 Electrocardiograph Technology/Technician
- 51.0903 Electroneurodiagnostic/Electroencephalographic Technology/Technologist
- 51.0904 Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
- 51.0905 Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist
- 51.0906 Perfusion Technology/Perfusionist
- 51.0907 Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist
- 51.0908 Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
- 51.0909 Surgical Technology/Technologist
- 51.0910 Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician
- 51.0911 Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer
- 51.0912 Physician Assistant
- 51.0913 Athletic Training/Trainer
- 51.0914 Gene/Genetic Therapy
- 51.0915 Cardiopulmonary Technology/Technologist
- 51.0916 Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician
- 51.0917 Polysomnography
- 51.0918 Hearing Instrument Specialist
- 51.0919 Mammography Technology/Technician
- 51.0920 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology/Technician
- 51.0921 Hyperbaric Medicine Technology/Technician
- 51.0922 Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Technology/Technician
- 51.0923 Orthopedic Technology/Technician
- 51.0999 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other
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