Who's on the clock?

Nurse Practitioners vs Physician Assistants

Nurse practitioners spend 59m of a shift on tasks AI or robots touch; physician assistants spend 35m. Here is how pay, outlook and training compare.

Time card for nurse practitioners: 59m of an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsTime card: Nurse Practitioners →

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Nurse practitioners or physician assistants: which will AI change more? AI and robots touch more of the day for nurse practitioners: 59m of an 8-hour shift, against 35m for physician assistants. Median pay is about the same: $132,300 and $135,880.

The two jobs share very close skills, including science, service orientation, social perceptiveness, so moving between them is realistic for many people.

Nurse Practitioners
59mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robots
  • 7h 1mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 59mAI mostly does it alone
  • 0mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$132,300
U.S. workers
323,000
Outlook to 2035
+41%
Openings a year
29,000
Typical preparation
Graduate degree
See the full time card →
Physician Assistants
35mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsLess AI time
  • 7h 25mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 35mAI mostly does it alone
  • 0mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$135,880
U.S. workers
162,000
Outlook to 2035
+21.1%
Openings a year
12,000
Typical preparation
Graduate degree
See the full time card →

Nurse Practitioners

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses. 53m
  • Provide patients or caregivers with assistance in locating health care resources. 6m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses. 1h 22m
  • Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. 35m
  • Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines. 29m

Physician Assistants

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal. 36m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination. 1h 35m
  • Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients. 1h 17m
  • Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition. 1h 17m

Swap in a different job Highlighted numbers are the higher of the two. Hours are estimates from each job's time card.