Written By Kevin Payne
Updated on January 11, 2024
Physician assistants (PAs) earn a sizable salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for physician assistants is $121,530, as of the most recent data in May 2021. The future also looks bright for PAs, with employment expected to grow 31% between 2020 and 2030.
If you took out student loans though, your salary might not be enough to make a big dent in your loan bill right away. A recent survey by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) showed that recently certified PAs carried a median student loan debt of $112,500.
Starting a side hustle generates extra funds to pay down student loans and reach other life and financial goals.
7 Relevant side gigs for physician assistants
Not all side hustles are equal, and many ideas you see online just aren't worth the time and cost investment to start. Below are seven physician assistant side hustles that can help you leverage your existing skills and training to boost your income.
1. Medical surveys
Surveys are a popular side hustle, although typically a low-paying option. Unlike surveys for the general public, which pay pennies for your time, medical surveys feature higher payouts. You won't earn earth-shattering money, but it's a relatively easy side hustle that you can do in your free time.
Research companies looking for medical professionals for surveys, include: Reckner Healthcare, ZoomRx, and M3 Global Research.
2. Telemedicine
The telehealth industry has been growing for several years, but its usage has hit all-time highs with the pandemic. A recent survey by the American Medical Association (AMA) showed that 79% of physicians worked in practices that offered telehealth services, compared to just 25.1% in 2018.
Working for a telehealth service allows you to work from anywhere and maintain a flexible schedule that works with your career and personal life. Depending on your situation, you could provide services for current and local patients or perform contract work for a telehealth service.
3. Teaching
You can also earn extra money on the side by becoming a teacher. Teaching can take many forms, with some requiring a larger time commitment. You could serve as an adjunct professor or clinical instructor at a college or university's medical school. A part-time teacher or guest lecturer might be a better option for physician assistants who want to make money without committing as much of their free time. Check with local colleges and universities to see what options are available. Online schools are another option, if you want to teach remotely.
4. Content creation
Content-related side gigs that can help you make money include medical writing on a blog or creating a podcast or YouTube channel. There are even opportunities to become an influencer on social media using your medical expertise.
Keep in mind that it’ll take time to earn passive income through income streams like advertising, sponsorships and affiliate sales.
Writing ebooks is another way to make money as a writer. Selling ebooks on sites like Amazon is a relatively easy way to earn passive income. Plus, writing is done on your own schedule. You can write whenever your full-time day job allows.
You can also get paid to create content for others. Medical journals and other publications pay freelance writers who can provide quality content that reaches their target audience.
5. Public speaking
Your medical knowledge and experience make you a prime candidate to start a public speaking side hustle. If you can position yourself as an expert on a particular subject, you can potentially land paid speaking gigs.
Possible speaking venues include medical conferences, medical schools, and universities. Even other conferences might have room for someone who can speak on wellness and health-related topics to their audience.
6. Tutor
Another way to use your medical skillset is to become a tutor. As a physician assistant, you could make decent money tutoring medical students. Your local college is one place to search for tutoring side jobs that need your medical expertise.
You can also find tutoring jobs on websites like:
As a tutor, you control your schedule, so you can fit in work as your schedule allows. It's a flexible side hustle that can earn decent money to put toward your student loan debt.
7. Health coach
Your unique experience and perspective can be a godsend to individuals who are looking to improve their health and well-being. Potential topics to address with coaching clients include:
- Weight loss
- Nutrition
- Physical activity
- Stretching
- Stress
- Improving your health
- Developing healthy habits
- Quitting smoking
Health coaches provide direction and offer clients accountability and motivation to follow through on medical advice.
Does it make sense to start a side hustle?
Although a side gig could add much-needed income, it's not a guarantee that you'll be successful or generate enough income to warrant the time investment. In many cases, you could make more money by picking up extra shifts at your current job.
Most of the side hustles listed above utilize your medical expertise as a PA, but there are non-clinical side hustles to consider, too. A non-clinical side hustle could help you tap into your other interests or give you a break from PA work and help you avoid burnout.
If a side hustle sounds interesting, find out exactly what's required and whether you have the skills to become successful and profitable. Some side hustles might require extra training or an initial investment that makes it harder to turn a profit.
Decide what you want to do to earn more money, what it takes to start, and whether it seems like something that can generate real money to pay off your student loans or meet other needs.
