Wound Care: Average Salary for a Wound Care Physician Assistant
The average salary for a wound care physician’s assistant (PA) in the United States is $150,541. Indeed.com (April 28, 2021)
Whether you are pursuing a specialty in wound care from the nurse practitioner or physician assistant career path, the projection for employment for wound care health care workers is trending up. With rising rates of an aging population, chronic illness, and now COVID-19 pandemic-related complications, wound care is an ever-increasing need among our population.
Highest Paying Cities for Wound Care Physician Assistant Jobs
There are 10 cities where the typical salary for a Wound Care Physician Assistant job is notably above the national average. San Mateo, Berkeley, and Daly City, California are the top 3 cities for wound care physician assistant jobs.
San Mateo has a very active Wound Care Physician Assistant job market. The data from the 10 cities that are higher than the national average in Wound Care Physician Assistant salary, indicates that opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations for the Wound Care PA are trending up.
| City | Anual Salary |
| San Mateo, CA | $188,605 |
| Berkeley, CA | $182,428 |
| Daly City, CA | $181,919 |
| Richmond, CA | $176,706 |
| Stamford, CT | $172,067 |
| Bellevue, WA | $171,620 |
| Brooklyn, NY | $169,155 |
| San Francisco, CA | $168,914 |
| Knik-Fairview, AK | $168,650 |
| New Haven, CT | $167,658 |
Wound Care Physician Assistant Job Location and Salary
Cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Wound Care Physician Assistant job. Comparing the cost of living index you will find that New Haven at 102.2 and San Mateo cost of living is 270.6. It’s considerably more expensive to live in San Mateo.
What Does a Wound Care Physician Assistant Do?
A Wound Care Physician Assistant provides medical services to patients who have wounds from acute injuries, surgery, an illness, or a chronic condition.
A wound care physician assistant:
- determines what areas of the patient’s body are affected by wounds;
- disinfects cuts, open sores, and surrounding areas;
- applies stitches;
- prescribes medications and treatments to prevent infections; and
- educates patients about how to care for their wounds at home.
A Wound Care PA may also provide care to patients with:
- chronic injuries
- ulcers
- broken bones
- fractures
In general, PAs diagnose and treat patients independently, however, they usually need to practice under the guidance of a medical doctor.
How to Become a Wound Care Physician Assistant
The qualifications you need to become a wound care physician assistant include a degree, clinical experience, and specialized training in wound care.
To become a physician assistant, you must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related subject, then
- Enroll in an accredited physician assistant graduate program.
- Meet clinical experience requirements and
- Pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
Some healthcare workers start their careers as general practitioners before specializing in wound care. The Wound Care Physician Assistant has a different role and responsibility than the specialized Wound Care Nurse Practitioner. While the PA is responsible for assisting the practice or hospital physician and will take cases that are overflow or do not require the physician’s care. In comparison, a wound care Nurse Practitioner is a specialized nurse practitioner who is trained in chronic wound care.
According to RNCareers.org, “the wound care, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurse specializes in assessment, treatment, and monitoring of wounds and skin breakdown, as well as in preventative measures aimed toward maintaining skin integrity.”
CoreMedSource offers real-world, practical skin and wound management training for students wishing to gain the fundamental knowledge to care for wound patients and also to prepare for WCC Certification from NAWCO. Acute and chronic wounds are a global pandemic, burdening the healthcare system with billions of dollars in finances and resources. This course will teach students how to think critically about wounds, learning the etiology, pathophysiology, and comorbidities that impact the clinician’s treatment plan.
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