Physician assistants
SOC Code: 29-1071
Physician assistants carries a 37% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $133,260 and +20.4% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 162,700 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 37% AI exposure, Physician assistants sits 0 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 59% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Physician assistants sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Physician assistants has ai exposure of 37%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Physician assistants vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Physician assistants is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Physician assistants (SOC 29-1071) carries an AI exposure score of 37%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 162,700 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +20.4% change through 2034 - a strong growth outlook that compensates meaningfully for automation risk. Median annual compensation stands at $133,260, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Master's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Physician assistants. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
- 2. Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
- 3. Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- 4. Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- 5. Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
- 6. Control anesthesia levels during procedures.
- 7. Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
- 8. Assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
- 9. Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
- 10. Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Learning
- Operations Monitoring
- Time Management
- Service Orientation
Knowledge Areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Physician assistants?
Physician assistants has an AI exposure score of 37%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Physician assistants?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Physician assistants is projected to grow by 20.4% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 162,700 workers.
What skills are needed for Physician assistants?
Key skills for Physician assistants include Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is Master's degree.
How much do Physician assistants earn?
The median annual wage for Physician assistants is $133,260, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Physician assistants?
The typical entry-level education for Physician assistants is Master's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Physician assistants?
Physician assistants roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).