Some PAs pursue additional education in order to practice in a specialty area such as surgery, neonatology, or emergency medicine. Employment Physician assistants held about 64,000 jobs in 1996. Sixty-six percent were in the offices and clinics of physicians or other health practitioners. Almost 20 percent were in hospitals. The rest were mostly in public health clinics, nursing homes, correctional institutions, home health-care agencies, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Income varies by specialty, practice setting, geographical location, and years of experience.
Although PAs generally work in a comfortable, well-lighted environment, those in surgery often stand for long periods, and others do considerable walking. Schedules vary according to practice setting and often depend on the hours of the supervising physician. The workweek of PAs in physicians' offices may include weekends, night hours, or early morning hospital rounds to visit patients. They may also be on call. Physician assistants need leadership skills, self-confidence, and emotional stability.