Average Plastic Surgery Physician Assistant Salary

• According to Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants (NP & PA), a study was performed in 2008 that found that PAs who work with plastic surgeons earn an average annual salary of $92,633. At this rate, PAs in this field earn more than the average wages earned by PAs working in other areas. According to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics data, the median salary for PAs in general was $81,230 in 2008.
  
  

Work Environment

• Plastic surgery PAs have a wide range of duties, depending on the office they work in and the expectations of the doctor they work to assist. PAs may be responsible for meeting with patients, taking notes and a wide range of other duties. They work in the operating room assisting the doctor with patient preparation as well as assisting with operating tools such as liposuction machinery. PAs also have a wide range of office functions, including organizing patient X-rays and other tests.
  
  

Training

• Many plastic surgeons maintain a practice in an office environment that has an attached operating room, sometimes referred to as a "surgicenter." As a result, many doctors require PAs to be certified in the latest emergency procedure techniques so they will be prepared to play a role if there is a cardiac or respiratory emergency while a patient is in surgery. Most PAs have a college degree in addition to at least two years of additional training in an accredited PA program. PA programs are offered at many universities.
  
  

Licensing

• All PAs must be certified or licensed by the state they work in. You can obtain a PA license by taking the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, which is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). The prerequisite to taking this examination is the successful completion of a two-year PA certification course taken at a university or other accredited institution.