Career comparison
Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Physician assistants earn more at the median ($135,880 vs. $132,300), while nurse practitioners usually get to work faster (6–8 years including RN education of training). Nurse practitioners diagnose, treat and prescribe as an advanced practice registered nurse. Physician assistants examine, diagnose and treat patients as part of a physician-led team.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Nurse Practitioner | Physician Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $132,300 ($63.61/hr) | $135,880 ($65.33/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $101,340 – $174,420 | $99,380 – $190,280 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +41.0% (much faster than average) | +21.1% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 29,400 | 11,500 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years including RN education | About 6–7 years after high school |
| Key credential | FNP-BC or FNP-C | PA-C (NCCPA certification) |
| Work setting | NPs work in primary care clinics, hospitals, specialty practices, urgent care, schools and telehealth.. | PAs work in clinics, hospitals, emergency departments and operating rooms.. |
What each job does
Nurse Practitioner
- Assess and examine patients
- Diagnose acute and chronic conditions
- Prescribe medications and treatments
- Order and interpret tests
- Manage chronic disease
Physician Assistant
- Take medical histories and examine patients
- Order and interpret tests
- Diagnose illnesses and injuries
- Prescribe medications
- Perform procedures and assist in surgery
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, high-pay, in-demand, and high responsibility. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose nurse practitioner if…
- I’m a nurse who wants more autonomy
- I enjoy diagnosing and treating
- I like building patient relationships
Choose physician assistant if…
- I want to diagnose and treat patients
- I love science
- I want a faster path than medical school
Still torn? Take the Nurse Practitioner fit quiz and the Physician Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, nurse practitioner or physician assistant?
Physician Assistants earn more at the median: $135,880 versus $132,300 for nurse practitioners, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Nurse Practitioners typically train faster (6–8 years including RN education) than physician assistants (About 6–7 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects nurse practitioners to grow +41.0% from 2025–35, compared with +21.1% for physician assistants.