Kelly Gooch – Becker’s Hospital Review
A 2024 survey conducted by consulting firm Sullivan Cotter highlights the variation in compensation for physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
The consulting firm’s “2024 Advanced Practice Provider Compensation and Productivity Survey Report” is based on data from nearly 850 health systems, hospitals and physician group practices representing more than 134,000 individual advanced practice providers and over 4,700 APP leaders.
Here are the highest-paid specialties for NPs and PAs, according to survey data shared with Becker’s. The specialties are in descending order based on median total cash compensation, which is equal to base salaries plus annual incentive awards.
Note: The lists do not include additional premium-based compensation.
Physician assistants
Cardiothoracic surgery — $165,198
Cardiovascular surgery — $158,113
Pediatrics – neonatal-perinatal medicine — $154,623
Orthopedic Surgery – medical — $154,321
Cardiology – electrophysiology — $153,351
Anesthesiology – pain medicine — $151,825
OB-GYN – gynecologic oncology — $150,932
Urgent care — $147,646
Dermatology — $147,158
Radiology – interventional — $145,908
Neurological surgery — $145,457
General surgery — $145,250
Occupational and environmental medicine — $144,496
Emergency medicine — $144,477
Psychiatry – general — $144,001
Vascular surgery — $143,312
Urology — $142,822
Orthopedic surgery – general — $142,800
Plastic and reconstructive surgery — $142,094
Pediatrics – critical care medicine. — $141,333
Nurse practitioners
Anesthesiology – pain medicine — $152,697
Radiology – diagnostic — $149,981
Psychiatry – outpatient — $148,650
Emergency medicine — $148,506
Psychiatry – inpatient — $148,474
Pediatrics – neonatal-perinatal medicine — $147,680
Psychiatry – general — $147,138
Orthopedic surgery – medical — $146,571
General surgery — $143,478
Oncology – hematology and oncology — $142,720
Cardiovascular surgery — $142,456
Pediatrics – hospitalist — $142,155
Cardiology – invasive – interventional — $141,794
Thoracic surgery — $141,434
Occupational and environmental medicine — $140,972
Pediatrics – emergency medicine — $140,950
Cardiology – electrophysiology — $140,872
Family medicine with obstetrics — $140,837
Pediatrics – critical care medicine — $140,784
Medical critical care — $140,427
