In the comprehensive 2009 Report on Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants that was commissioned by the Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants (SEMPA) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and conducted by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), compensation and benefit data was collected and analyzed. Results are broken down by SEMPA members, non-members and total respondents.
Salary Type | Income Levels | Compensation Type | Insurances & Professional Fees |
Annual Vacation Allotment | Annual CME Funding |
Annual Paid CME Time Off Allotment | Membership in Professional Societies
As indicated by the table below, the majority of all respondents are compensated with hourly wages. However, a statistically significant difference is noted in the method of compensation between SEMPA members and non-members. Nearly 36% (35.38%) of SEMPA members are compensated by salary, as compared to 27.25% of non-members; 66.88% of non-members are compensated by hourly wage while 60.92% of SEMPA members are compensated in that manner. A larger percentage of SEMPA members are compensated by salary, and a larger percentage of non-members are paid by hourly wages.
|
Salary Type |
SEMPA |
Non SEMPA |
All Respondents |
|||
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
|
Hourly Wage |
198 |
60.92% |
513 |
66.88% |
711 |
65.11% |
|
Salary |
115 |
35.38% |
209 |
27.25% |
324 |
29.67% |
|
Other |
12 |
3.69% |
45 |
5.87% |
57 |
5.22% |
|
Total |
325 |
100% |
767 |
100.00% |
1092 |
100.00% |
As indicated by the table below, most EMPAs earn more than $90,000 annually.
|
Salary Intervals |
SEMPA |
Non SEMPA |
All Respondents |
|||
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
|
Less than $50,000 |
4 |
1.29% |
18 |
2.52% |
22 |
2.14% |
|
$50,000-$59,000 |
4 |
1.29% |
10 |
1.40% |
14 |
1.36% |
|
$60,000-$69,000 |
6 |
1.93% |
10 |
1.40% |
16 |
1.56% |
|
$70,000-$79,000 |
31 |
9.97% |
46 |
6.43% |
77 |
7.50% |
|
$80,000-$89,000 |
47 |
15.11% |
109 |
15.24% |
156 |
15.20% |
|
$90,000-$99,000 |
72 |
23.15% |
171 |
23.92% |
243 |
23.68% |
|
$100,000 or greater |
147 |
47.27% |
351 |
49.09% |
498 |
48.54% |
|
Total |
311 |
100% |
715 |
100% |
1026 |
100% |
Survey recipients were asked to provide information on any types of compensation they receive in addition to their base pay. There was no statistically significant relationship for the additional compensation types. The two most frequent responses provided by both SEMPA members and non-members were overtime and compensation for productivity/performance.
|
Compensation Type |
SEMPA |
Non SEMPA |
All Respondents |
|||
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
|
Surgical Assist Fee |
1 |
0.26% |
5 |
0.63% |
6 |
0.51% |
|
Overtime |
163 |
43.12% |
358 |
44.86% |
521 |
44.30% |
|
Administrative Pay |
58 |
15.34% |
112 |
14.04% |
170 |
14.46% |
|
On Call Services Pay |
21 |
5.55% |
39 |
4.89% |
60 |
5.10% |
|
Compensation on Productivity/ |
126 |
33.33% |
277 |
34.71% |
403 |
34.27% |
|
Supervision of EMT Crews |
9 |
2.38% |
7 |
0.88% |
16 |
1.36% |
|
Total |
378 |
100% |
798 |
100.00% |
1176 |
100.00% |
The following tables provide EMPA data results for insurance and professional fees.
|
SEMPA |
||||||
|
All |
Partial |
Some |
||||
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
|
Professional Liability |
320 |
17.03% |
5 |
0.50% |
3 |
0.29% |
|
Individual Health |
141 |
7.50% |
139 |
13.79% |
48 |
4.58% |
|
Family Health |
90 |
4.79% |
162 |
16.07% |
76 |
7.24% |
|
Dental |
93 |
4.95% |
137 |
13.59% |
98 |
9.34% |
|
Disability |
145 |
7.72% |
94 |
9.33% |
89 |
8.48% |
|
Term life |
144 |
7.66% |
79 |
7.84% |
105 |
10.01% |
|
Pension Retirement |
97 |
5.16% |
178 |
17.66% |
53 |
5.05% |
|
State License |
196 |
10.43% |
26 |
2.58% |
106 |
10.10% |
|
DEA Fees |
208 |
11.07% |
22 |
2.18% |
98 |
9.34% |
|
NCCPA |
180 |
9.58% |
31 |
3.08% |
117 |
11.15% |
|
Professional Organization |
161 |
8.57% |
53 |
5.26% |
114 |
10.87% |
|
Medical Publication |
104 |
5.53% |
82 |
8.13% |
142 |
13.54% |
|
Total |
1879 |
100.00% |
1008 |
100.00% |
1049 |
100.00% |
|
Non SEMPA |
||||||
|
All |
Partial |
Some |
||||
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
|
Professional Liability |
753 |
17.89% |
4 |
0.20% |
11 |
0.36% |
|
Individual Health |
335 |
7.96% |
281 |
14.16% |
152 |
5.03% |
|
Family Health |
200 |
4.75% |
325 |
16.38% |
243 |
8.04% |
|
Dental |
218 |
5.18% |
279 |
14.06% |
271 |
8.96% |
|
Disability |
276 |
6.56% |
197 |
9.93% |
295 |
9.76% |
|
Term life |
244 |
5.80% |
186 |
9.38% |
338 |
11.18% |
|
Pension Retirement |
214 |
5.09% |
387 |
19.51% |
167 |
5.52% |
|
State License |
462 |
10.98% |
45 |
2.27% |
261 |
8.63% |
|
DEA Fees |
476 |
11.31% |
38 |
1.92% |
254 |
8.40% |
|
NCCPA |
410 |
9.74% |
44 |
2.22% |
314 |
10.38% |
|
Professional Organization |
371 |
8.82% |
67 |
3.38% |
330 |
10.91% |
|
Medical Publication |
249 |
5.92% |
131 |
6.60% |
388 |
12.83% |
|
Total |
4208 |
100.00% |
1984 |
100.00% |
3024 |
100.00% |
|
|
All Respondents |
Partial |
Some |
|||
|
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
Professional Liability |
1073 |
17.63% |
9 |
0.30% |
14 |
0.34% |
|
Individual Health |
476 |
7.82% |
420 |
14.04% |
200 |
4.91% |
|
Family Health |
290 |
4.76% |
487 |
16.28% |
319 |
7.83% |
|
Dental |
311 |
5.11% |
416 |
13.90% |
369 |
9.06% |
|
Disability |
421 |
6.92% |
291 |
9.73% |
384 |
9.43% |
|
Term life |
388 |
6.37% |
265 |
8.86% |
443 |
10.88% |
|
Pension Retirement |
311 |
5.11% |
565 |
18.88% |
220 |
5.40% |
|
State License |
658 |
10.81% |
71 |
2.37% |
367 |
9.01% |
|
DEA Fees |
684 |
11.24% |
60 |
2.01% |
352 |
8.64% |
|
NCCPA |
590 |
9.69% |
75 |
2.51% |
431 |
10.58% |
|
Professional Organization |
532 |
8.74% |
120 |
4.01% |
444 |
10.90% |
|
Medical Publication |
353 |
5.80% |
213 |
7.12% |
530 |
13.01% |
|
Total |
6087 |
100.00% |
2992 |
100.00% |
4073 |
100.00% |
The following table provides EMPA data results for annual vacation allotment.
|
Vacation Time |
SEMPA |
Non SEMPA |
All Respondents |
|||
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
|
1 week |
10 |
3.06% |
17 |
2.21% |
27 |
2.47% |
|
2 weeks |
50 |
15.29% |
124 |
16.15% |
174 |
15.89% |
|
3 weeks |
43 |
13.15% |
114 |
14.84% |
157 |
14.34% |
|
4 weeks |
76 |
23.24% |
168 |
21.88% |
244 |
22.29% |
|
5 weeks |
34 |
10.40% |
67 |
8.72% |
101 |
9.22% |
|
6 weeks |
19 |
5.81% |
31 |
4.04% |
50 |
4.57% |
|
Greater than 6 weeks |
12 |
3.67% |
20 |
2.60% |
32 |
2.92% |
|
None |
83 |
25.38% |
227 |
29.56% |
310 |
28.31% |
|
Total |
327 |
100% |
768 |
100% |
1095 |
100% |
The following table provides EMPA data results for annual CME funding.
|
CME Benefit |
SEMPA |
Non SEMPA |
All Respondents |
|||
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
|
Less than $500 |
3 |
0.92% |
23 |
2.99% |
26 |
2.37% |
|
$500-$999 |
18 |
5.50% |
67 |
8.72% |
85 |
7.76% |
|
$1000-$2000 |
162 |
49.54% |
366 |
47.66% |
528 |
48.22% |
|
Greater than $2000 |
106 |
32.41% |
174 |
22.66% |
280 |
25.57% |
|
None |
38 |
11.62% |
138 |
17.97% |
176 |
16.07% |
|
Total |
327 |
100% |
768 |
100% |
1095 |
100% |
The following tableprovides EMPA data results for annual paid CME time off allotment.
|
Time |
SEMPA |
Non SEMPA |
All Respondents |
|||
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
|
1 week |
148 |
45.12% |
330 |
42.97% |
478 |
43.61% |
|
2 weeks |
25 |
7.62% |
42 |
5.47% |
67 |
6.11% |
|
Greater than 2 weeks |
7 |
2.13% |
9 |
1.17% |
16 |
1.46% |
|
None |
148 |
45.12% |
387 |
50.39% |
535 |
48.81% |
|
Total |
328 |
100.00% |
768 |
100.00% |
1096 |
100.00% |
The following tableprovides EMPA data results for membership in professional societies.
|
Organization |
SEMPA |
Non SEMPA |
All Respondents |
|||
|
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
Frequency |
Percent |
|
AAPA |
263 |
49.91% |
448 |
43.45% |
711 |
45.64% |
|
State PA |
222 |
42.13% |
308 |
29.87% |
530 |
34.02% |
|
None |
6 |
1.14% |
213 |
20.66% |
219 |
14.06% |
|
Other |
36 |
6.83% |
62 |
6.01% |
98 |
6.29% |
|
Total |
527 |
100.00% |
1031 |
100.00% |
1558 |
100.00% |