Physician Assistants
SOC Code: 29-1071 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Physician Assistants. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | $129,002 | $167,690 | $206,357 | $245,045 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $124,800 | $161,408 | $197,995 | $234,603 |
| Napa, CA | $135,970 | $158,392 | $180,794 | $203,216 |
| Vallejo, CA | $118,352 | $145,746 | $173,118 | $200,512 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $119,205 | $143,562 | $167,918 | $192,275 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $119,018 | $143,250 | $167,461 | $191,693 |
| Yuba City, CA | $105,830 | $133,931 | $162,053 | $190,154 |
| Modesto, CA | $126,131 | $147,035 | $167,960 | $188,864 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $109,200 | $134,909 | $160,597 | $186,306 |
| Medford, OR | $110,469 | $135,616 | $160,742 | $185,890 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER | 6 | $137,616 |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | 5 | $136,793 |
| Mount Sinai Hospital | 4 | $133,310 |
| CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SERVICES, INC. | 4 | $113,793 |
| Perfusion.com Inc. | 3 | $186,633 |
| OU Medicine, Inc. | 3 | $131,500 |
| FAMILY HEALTHCARE NETWORK | 3 | $147,302 |
| Florida Hospital Medical Group, Inc. | 3 | $111,081 |
| Berkshire Medical Center | 3 | $103,527 |
| ST. LUKE'S-ROOSEVELT HOSPITAL CENTER | 3 | $134,557 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | $124,929 |
| 2021 | 11 | $113,951 |
| 2022 | 11 | $110,788 |
| 2023 | 21 | $125,766 |
| 2024 | 39 | $120,923 |
| 2025 | 49 | $126,022 |
| 2026 | 12 | $135,866 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 4.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 4.0 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.9 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry | 5.0 |
| Biology | 4.8 |
| English Language | 4.6 |
| Psychology | 4.6 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 4.5 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.2 |
| Education and Training | 4.0 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 3.6 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 81.1% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 13.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 5.4% |
Typical Tasks
- Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
- Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
- Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
- Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
- Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management.
- Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Epic Systems MEDITECH software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word eClinicalWorks EHR software ChartWare EMR Electronic medical record EMR software Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS Medical condition coding software Medical procedure coding software Patient management software Patient records software for personal digital assistants PDAs Spreadsheet software
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