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Advanced practice providers (APPs) are playing larger roles within Primary Care settings, leading some experts to believe that APPs will be key in meeting the healthcare needs of the coming decade.
The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Bureau of Health Workforce estimates a surplus of 74,770 nurse practitioners (NPs) and 13,190 physician associates (PAs) in Primary Care by 2036.
The upward growth of APPs should come as no surprise, considering physician assistants and nurse practitioners represent some of today’s fastest growing and "best" jobs in healthcare. It does, however, raise some important questions:
Let’s explore the data, examine three emerging trends, and discuss how today’s APP healthcare professionals can make informed decisions about the future of their careers.
(Ready to take the next step in your advanced practice provider career? Contact PS&D today.)
Primary Care opportunities for advanced practice providers are growing, both in the scale of their employment and in terms of wage growth potential, work-life balance and prospects for the field.
According to US News and World Report, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are rated as the #1 and #2 best healthcare jobs, respectively, and are ranked the #1 and #3 best jobs overall.
The popularity of APP careers is understandable, given that both PA and NP roles offer medical professionals the autonomy to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medication and build a community of patients to care for, all without the time and expense of medical school and residency.
But what does growth for these roles really look like? Let’s explore the numbers.
This is a promising forecast for Primary Care physician assistants, and the outlook is even stronger for nurse practitioners.
But it’s not just the job forecasts that appear robust. Salary growth for Primary Care APPs also appears to be healthily trending upward.
Primary Care Nurse Practitioners
According to Medscape, total compensation for nurse practitioners and other nursing specialists rose between 7% to 18% on average in 2024.
Primary Care Physician Assistants
Primary Care APP career opportunities are growing, salaries are steadily increasing and the scope of leadership roles are expanding, giving physician assistants and nurse practitioners more ways in which they can achieve their career goals.
For Primary Care PAs, the role can be a path to elevating their career. It can open doors to formal leadership opportunities, including management and roles in research, pharmaceuticals and education.
Moving into leadership roles can have a big impact on salary growth for PAs. Vice President or Senior Vice President PAs, for instance, earn a median annual salary of about $180K, according to recent research. These roles were also more likely to receive bonuses and higher median bonuses than the average PA in leadership positions.
PS&D’s Career Development In Practice: Marina Sarwary
A great example of the pathway from PA to leadership is Marina Sarwary, MSPA, PA-C, who transitioned from physician assistant to medical director over Providence ExpressCare clinics in southern California.
For Marina, this pathway was a natural evolution of her long-held career goals. Providence ExpressCare provided a space between Primary Care and the emergency room, where she could do procedures, help people who needed care fast and act as an extension of a Primary Care doctor.
Now, in her role as medical director, she paves the way for other advanced practice providers to achieve their own goals.
Of course, training and development also plays a critical role in the development of a PA’s career, and the data suggests they’re embracing the opportunity to advance.
According to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants:
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants now offers board certification in 11 medical and surgical specialties, with more in development.
These specialties include:
For nurse practitioners, the pathway to career advancement is slightly different, and typically centered on specialization-based roles.
The most common specializations for nurse practitioners include:
While these NP specializations are diverse, their average salaries are typically lower than standard NP positions, and often pull the professional away from patient care.
For nurse practitioners who want to remain in patient-focused roles, the Primary Care career pathways are abundant:
Family Nurse Practitioner
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) role has an average salary of $128K nationally. The highest paying state for this position is Washington, with an average salary of $144K, while the lowest paying state is Florida, with an average salary of $95K.
Family Nurse Practitioner
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) role has an average salary of $128K nationally. The highest paying state for this position is Washington, with an average salary of $144K, while the lowest paying state is Florida, with an average salary of $95K.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) role has an average salary of $135K nationally. The highest paying state for this position is Washington, with an average salary of $153K, while the lowest paying state is Florida, with an average salary of $101K.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) role has an average salary of $134K nationally. The highest paying state for this position is Washington, with an average salary of $152K, while the lowest paying state is Florida, with an average salary of $100K.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) role has an average salary of $136K nationally. The highest paying state for this position is Washington, with an average salary of $155K, while the lowest paying state is Florida, with an average salary of $102K.
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
The Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) role has an average salary of $124K nationally. The highest paying state for this position is Washington, with an average salary of $141K, while the lowest paying state is Florida, with an average salary of $93K.
A nurse practitioner typically has the ability to switch specialties, and this switch will generally include additional training, certifications and licensure.
The healthcare professionals pursuing these Primary Care-based certifications are plentiful. In 2023, The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners reported that they awarded nearly 200,000 Family NP and Adult Gerontology NP certifications alone.
As is the case for most industries, technological advancements continue to have a big impact on how Primary Care APPs diagnose and treat their patients.
According to Medical Economics, experts are predicting the global digital health market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18.6% by 2030.
The intent is to give more patients access to timely medical advice through increasingly common solutions like telemedicine.
APPs are leveraging these technology solutions to change the way they deliver healthcare, increase their efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, improve communication with patients and colleagues and deliver better outcomes.
Some of the most notable areas where technology is making big impacts for Primary Care APPs beyond telehealth include:
Of course, artificial intelligence and machine learning are also central components of the conversation surrounding technological advancements in healthcare.
Though there is a wariness surrounding the impact and accuracy of some artificial intelligence tools, these applications continue to improve day-after-day in their ability to make APPs more productive, allowing them to focus more of their attention on delivering patient care.
Even seasoned physician assistants are encouraging professionals to embrace AI and machine learning, noting that advancements like AI will not replace, but assist, APPs in lessening the burden of administrative work, predict health trends and streamline the diagnostic process.
Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are vital to meeting our nation’s current and future healthcare needs. PS&D has a well-documented history of pairing APPs with the health systems and patients who need them most.
Founded and owned by Providence, we recruit for hundreds of jobs within its seven-state footprint, in addition to dozens of other partners across the country. Our recruiters don't have quotas, and we don't work on commission. Our goal is simple — to offer our expertise and guidance so you can reach your professional goals and find personal fulfillment.
To explore APP Primary Care job opportunities, connect with a PS&D recruiter today.