Career comparison
Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant
A side-by-side read on pay, outlook, and — the part that actually decides it — which one fits the way you work.
Nurse Practitioner
$122,000median
$92K – $178K
Nurse Practitioner rewards strength in execution discipline and social interaction.
Physician Assistant
$128,000median
$95K – $195K
Physician Assistant rewards strength in execution discipline and social interaction.
Head to head
MetricNurse PractitionerPhysician Assistant
Median salary$122k$128k✓
5-year growth88/10084/100
Future-proof88/10086/100
Remote potential18/100✓12/100
Stress level64/10064/100
Entry difficulty76/10078/100
Figures from the Work Fit IQ catalog, calibrated to public 2024-2026 US labor signals (BLS OEWS/OOH, O*NET, Levels.fyi). A highlighted side means a meaningful edge on that metric, not a verdict on the whole career.
Read the full guides
Still torn?
Let your own traits break the tie.
The free 12-question diagnostic scores both of these against your work style and tells you which one actually fits — plus 200 other roles. About 3 minutes.
Take the free diagnostic