Since physician assistants continue to experience high demand and high-paying jobs in Alaska, the state’s Department of Labor has named physician assisting among the top 20 “Hot Jobs in Health Care.” Research conducted by the United States Department of Labor in 2014 shows that physician assistants working across Alaska took home an average annual salary of $106,080 and an average hourly wage of $51.00.
Occupational employment projections released by the federal government reveal that physician assistants in Alaska will benefit from an employment growth rate of 26% through 2022.
Greater Average Pay for Physician Assistants in Alaska
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor discovered that physician assistants in Alaska at all experience levels enjoyed higher average annual salaries than the national average for this occupation.
At the national level, entry-level physician assistants earned an average annual salary of $64,100 and an average hourly wage of $30.82. Median wage earners were paid an average annual of $95,800 and an average hourly wage of $46.07, while the most experienced workers were given an average annual salary of $134,700 and an average hourly wage of $64.77.
Comparatively, physician assistants in Alaska received notably higher salaries in all categories. Here, entry-level physician assistants achieved an average annual salary of $77,000 and an average hourly wage of $37.03. Meanwhile, median salary recipients earned an average annual salary of $103,800 and an average hourly wage of $49.92. The most experienced physician assistants in the state earned an average annual salary of $139,100 and an average hourly wage of $66.86.
Physician Assistant Salary Variations by Location in Alaska
Physician assistants should not cling too tightly to statewide salary averages since geographic location of employment often greatly impacts actual salary earnings in Alaska. It is important to note that areas with the greatest populations do not necessarily offer the greatest salaries.
For example, in May 2014, the United States Department of Labor processed wage surveys that disclosed that physician assistants employed in Anchorage were paid an average annual salary of $106,280 and an average hourly wage of $51.10. Those working in the Railbelt/Southwest nonmetropolitan area received a slightly lower average annual salary of $105,160 and an average hourly wage of $50.56. On the other hand, physician assistants in Fairbanks earned an average annual salary closer to $100,090 and an average hourly wage of $48.12.
A more thorough analysis of physician assistant salaries by geographic location in Alaska is available in the data table below (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014):