The Idaho Department of Labor recently identified physician assisting as one of the state’s top twenty “Hot Jobs” from 2012 through 2022 because of the occupation’s abundance of job opportunities, rapid employment growth, and high salary rate.
Employment projections published by the United States Department of Labor indicate that the number of physician assistants working in Idaho will expand from 680 in 2012 to 900 by 2022. This 33% employment growth change is expected to generate 30 annual job openings, which makes this profession among the state’s top 50 fastest-growing occupations.
In 2014, physician assistants working throughout Idaho earned an average annual salary of $95,180 and an average hourly wage of $45.76. This enviable pay rate also qualifies physician assistants for a spot among the state’s top 50 highest-paying occupations.
According to job aggregation sites, the following healthcare employers posted online advertisements looking to hire physician assistants across Idaho in September 2015:
- Boundary Community Hospital
- West Valley Medical Center
- Clearwater Valley Hospital & Clinics
- Idaho Falls Family & Sports Medicine
- Physicians Clinic, PLLC
- St. Luke’s Health System
- Portnuef Medical Center
- Primary Health Medical Group
- Opportunity Healthcare
- Enterprise Medical Services
Experience Draws High-end Physician Assistant Salaries in Idaho
The highest physician assistant salaries are typically reserved for those working in managerial roles overseeing more inexperienced staff members and students. Yet, most employers will only promote physician assistants into these coveted positions if they possess several years of diverse work experience.
Physician assistants can facilitate career advancement by gaining experience in the following ways:
- Completing a postgraduate educational program in an area of specialization like cardiothoracic surgery, neurology or pediatrics
- Participating in additional training opportunities provided by professional associations such as the Idaho Academy of Physician Assistants
- Attending continuing medical education (CME) events
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor reported that physician assistants employed in Idaho received an average salary of $66,900 and an average hourly wage of $32.14, while more intermediate workers were offered a higher average annual salary of $91,300 and an average hourly wage of $43.91. The most experienced, and highest paid physician assistants earned an average annual salary of $124,200 and an average hourly wage of $59.71.
Physician Assistant Salaries in Major Regions of Idaho
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor published wage reports that showed a strong connection between a physician assistant’s geographic location and their salary potential. For example, physician assistants that worked in the East nonmetropolitan area of Idaho were given an average annual salary of $88,150, while those employed in the Southcentral nonmetropolitan area achieved a much higher average annual salary of $104,190.
Here are the salary statistics for physician assistants employed in other regions of Idaho that year:
- Boise City-Nampa: $94,560
- Coeur d’Alene: $94,950
- Idaho Falls: $96,330
- Pocatello: $97,280
- North nonmetropolitan area: $96,470
The data table featured below provides an even closer look at physician assistant salaries in each of these regions (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014):