NP vs PA: Pay, Training, and What Each Does
A physician assistant earns a median of $135,880 a year and a nurse practitioner $132,300, a difference of $3,580, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The BLS lists “Master's degree” as the typical entry-level education for both.
NP and PA side by side
| Measure | NP | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay a year | $132,300 | $135,880 |
| Typical pay an hour | $63.61 | $65.33 |
| Pay range (10th to 90th percentile) | $101,340 to $174,420 | $99,380 to $190,280 |
| Jobs | 323,040 | 162,150 |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | 41.0% | 21.1% |
| Openings a year | 29,400 | 11,500 |
| Typical entry-level education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| License or exam | National NP certification exam (for example AANPCB or ANCC) | PANCE (NCCPA) |
| Largest employer industry | Offices of Physicians | Offices of Physicians |
Pay and jobs: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Projections: BLS Employment Projections. Education: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
What each does
NP
“Nurse practitioners (NPs) serve as primary and specialty care providers, delivering advanced nursing services to patients and their families.”
License: “APRNs also must be licensed registered nurses in their state, pass a national certification exam, and have a state APRN license.”
Quoted from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
PA
“Physician assistants, also known as PAs, examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician.”
Training: “Physician assistant education programs usually take at least 2 years of postbaccalaureate study.”
License: “All states and the District of Columbia require physician assistants to be licensed.”
Quoted from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
The key differences, in the BLS's words
- “Physician assistants differ from nurse practitioners in their training and the level of care they provide; for example, nurse practitioners cannot provide surgical care, whereas physician assistants can.”
- “Physician assistants are on teams with physicians or surgeons and other healthcare workers. The amount of collaboration and the extent to which they must be supervised by physicians or surgeons differ by state.”
- “In most states, laws require physician assistants to hold an agreement with a supervising physician. Although the physician does not need to be onsite at all times, collaboration between physicians and physician assistants is required for practice.”
- “APRNs work independently or in collaboration with physicians. In most states, they can prescribe medications, order medical tests, and diagnose health problems.”
- “Although the scope of their duties varies by state, many nurse practitioners work independently, prescribe medications, and order laboratory tests. Nurse practitioners consult with physicians and other health professionals when needed.”
- “An APRN must have a registered nursing (RN) license before pursuing education in one of the advanced practice roles, and a strong background in science is helpful.”
Quoted from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook pages for both occupations.
NP vs PA pay by state
The pay difference is widest in Hawaii (PA +$28,480), Mississippi (NP +$18,810), Vermont (PA +$15,750).
| State | NP | PA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $135,570 | $164,050 | PA +$28,480 |
| Mississippi | $124,730 | $105,920 | NP +$18,810 |
| Vermont | $134,740 | $150,490 | PA +$15,750 |
| Georgia | $129,430 | $115,390 | NP +$14,040 |
| New Hampshire | $137,550 | $150,960 | PA +$13,410 |
| Delaware | $131,040 | $139,350 | PA +$8,310 |
| Washington | $156,100 | $164,360 | PA +$8,260 |
| Virginia | $127,810 | $135,940 | PA +$8,130 |
| Minnesota | $133,260 | $141,190 | PA +$7,930 |
| New York | $153,510 | $160,880 | PA +$7,370 |
| Arkansas | $125,660 | $118,430 | NP +$7,230 |
| Ohio | $124,870 | $132,090 | PA +$7,220 |
| Maryland | $131,110 | $137,560 | PA +$6,450 |
| New Jersey | $159,310 | $165,690 | PA +$6,380 |
| Nevada | $140,670 | $134,660 | NP +$6,010 |
| Missouri | $129,930 | $135,130 | PA +$5,200 |
| Iowa | $130,160 | $134,770 | PA +$4,610 |
| Alaska | $155,170 | $150,700 | NP +$4,470 |
| South Dakota | $128,840 | $133,200 | PA +$4,360 |
| Montana | $137,210 | $141,470 | PA +$4,260 |
| Rhode Island | $135,970 | $139,930 | PA +$3,960 |
| Wyoming | $132,200 | $136,080 | PA +$3,880 |
| Utah | $130,920 | $134,740 | PA +$3,820 |
| North Dakota | $130,070 | $133,450 | PA +$3,380 |
| Louisiana | $125,600 | $128,870 | PA +$3,270 |
| Indiana | $128,830 | $132,050 | PA +$3,220 |
| Oklahoma | $133,390 | $136,550 | PA +$3,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,140 | $127,070 | NP +$3,070 |
| Texas | $131,670 | $134,550 | PA +$2,880 |
| California | $168,520 | $165,650 | NP +$2,870 |
| New Mexico | $137,520 | $139,920 | PA +$2,400 |
| Kentucky | $122,870 | $120,760 | NP +$2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $131,980 | $133,950 | PA +$1,970 |
| Colorado | $132,930 | $134,540 | PA +$1,610 |
| Connecticut | $138,470 | $139,860 | PA +$1,390 |
| West Virginia | $127,320 | $128,610 | PA +$1,290 |
| Illinois | $130,680 | $131,950 | PA +$1,270 |
| Idaho | $132,540 | $133,790 | PA +$1,250 |
| Kansas | $126,650 | $125,640 | NP +$1,010 |
| Maine | $130,260 | $131,170 | PA +$910 |
| Nebraska | $132,130 | $133,040 | PA +$910 |
| South Carolina | $123,290 | $122,490 | NP +$800 |
| Alabama | $105,750 | $104,960 | NP +$790 |
| District of Columbia | $135,880 | $135,140 | NP +$740 |
| Tennessee | $117,590 | $118,240 | PA +$650 |
| North Carolina | $128,990 | $129,360 | PA +$370 |
| Arizona | $134,420 | $134,650 | PA +$230 |
| Florida | $129,510 | $129,620 | PA +$110 |
| Oregon | $155,680 | $155,780 | PA +$100 |
| Michigan | $131,450 | $131,510 | PA +$60 |
| Massachusetts | $142,440 | $142,410 | NP +$30 |
Typical (median) annual pay, BLS OEWS May 2025. The difference column names the higher-paid job. Sorted by the size of the difference.
NP vs PA: questions
- Who makes more, a NP or a PA?
- A PA earns more: $135,880 a year at the median, against $132,300 for a NP, a difference of $3,580, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025).
- What education does each need?
- The BLS lists “Master's degree” as the typical entry-level education for both.
- Which has more job openings?
- The BLS projects about 29,400 openings a year for nurse practitioners and 11,500 for physician assistants over 2025 to 2035.