Hire Physician Assistants in Tampa, Florida
Tampa has 160 licensed physician assistants serving 400K residents — 40 per 100K, 13% below the national average. FL healthcare jobs growing 15%.
Tampa has 1.6% of FL's physician assistants supply but 11.7% of its population. Expect ~49 day fill time. Offer competitive packages with flexible scheduling to stand out.
Physician Assistants Salary Breakdown
2026 projections — use for offer benchmarking
By Experience Level
| Level | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry (0-2 yrs) | $105,000 |
| Mid-Career (3-7 yrs) | $128,000 |
| Senior (8-15 yrs) | $150,000 |
| Expert (15+ yrs) | $170,000 |
By Work Setting
| Setting | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Hospital | $140,000 |
| Outpatient | $128,000 |
| Long-Term Care | $120,000 |
| Home Health | $125,000 |
Tip: To recruit mid-career physician assistants, target offers at $134,400+ to be competitive.
Workforce Supply Analysis
How Tampa Compares to Other FL Cities
| City | Providers | Per 100K | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa | 160 | 40 | 400,000 |
| Jacksonville | 380 | 40 | 950,000 |
| Miami | 188 | 40 | 470,000 |
| Orlando | 124 | 40 | 310,000 |
| St Petersburg | 106 | 40 | 265,000 |
| Hialeah | 92 | 40 | 230,000 |
| Port St Lucie | 82 | 40 | 205,000 |
| Tallahassee | 78 | 40 | 195,000 |
Healthcare Workforce in Tampa
Physician Assistants rank #13 of 19 specialties in Tampa.
FL ranks #4 nationally for physician assistants with 9,800 statewide. Tampa accounts for 1.6% of the state's supply.
Florida Regulatory & Compliance Quick Reference
Credentialing Timelines
| Hospital Privileging | 60-120 days |
| Insurance Paneling | 90-180 days |
| DEA Registration | 4-6 weeks |
| Malpractice Insurance | 1-2 weeks |
Plan for 60-120 days total onboarding time when making offers. Start credentialing before the candidate's notice period ends to minimize gap.
Retention & Turnover Intelligence
Top Exit Reasons
Top Retention Factors
Cost Impact: At 18.2% turnover, Tampa could see ~29 physician assistants leave annually, costing an estimated $1,936,771 in replacement costs. Proactive retention saves 3-5x vs. reactive recruiting.
Physician Assistants Subspecialties & Titles
In-Demand Subspecialties
Common Job Titles
Boolean Search Terms
"physician assistant jobs" OR "PA positions" OR "PA-C jobs" OR "certified physician assistant"
Tampa Physician Assistants Recruiting Market Overview
Tampa has 160 licensed physician assistants serving a population of 400,000 — a ratio of 40 per 100K residents, which is 13% below the national average of 46 per 100K. Among FL cities, Jacksonville leads with 40 per 100K. (Source: CMS NPPES)
The national median salary for physician assistants is $133,020 , ranging from $105,000 for entry-level to $170,000 for 15+ years experience. Hospital settings pay $140,000 on average, while outpatient roles average $128,000. Sign-on bonuses averaging $15,000 are common for hard-to-fill positions (Source: BLS OOH).
Florida is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, allowing multistate practice. NPs require physician collaboration agreements, which can affect recruitment timelines. Healthcare employment in FL is projected to grow 15%, significantly above the national average.
With annual turnover at 18.2% for this specialty, proactive recruiting and retention programs are critical. At current rates, approximately 29 physician assistants in Tampa will change positions annually. Top retention factors include work-life balance (85%), competitive salary (82%), and supportive management (78%). Employers investing in these areas see 25-40% lower turnover.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hiring Physician Assistants in Tampa
How many physician assistants are in Tampa?
Tampa has 160 NPI-registered physician assistants, or 40 per 100K residents — 13% below the national average. (Source: CMS NPPES NPI Registry)
What should I pay physician assistants in Tampa?
The national median is $133,020. Entry-level: $105,000, Senior: $150,000, Expert: $170,000. Sign-on bonuses averaging $15,000 can help close competitive candidates. (Source: BLS 2024)
Is Florida a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes, Florida is a compact state. Nurses with a multistate license can practice in FL without additional licensure. The compact currently includes 42 member states.
How long does credentialing take in Florida?
Hospital privileging: 60-120 days. Insurance paneling: 90-180 days. DEA registration: 4-6 weeks. Start credentialing before the candidate's notice period ends to minimize onboarding gaps.
What is the turnover rate for physician assistants?
The average annual turnover rate is 18.2%. In Tampa, that translates to ~29 position changes annually, costing an estimated $1,936,771 in replacement costs. Top exit reasons: burnout (35%), better pay (28%), career change (12%).
How does Tampa compare to other FL cities?
Tampa has 160 physician assistants, representing 1.6% of FL's total. Jacksonville leads with 380 providers, followed by Miami with 188.
What physician assistants subspecialties are in demand?
Top in-demand subspecialties include Medical PA, Surgical PA, Emergency Medicine PA, Orthopedic PA, Dermatology PA. These niche roles often command premium compensation and longer fill times.
What is the job market outlook for physician assistants?
Employment is projected to grow 15% in FL. With 18.2% annual turnover and aging population demand, recruiters should build proactive pipelines. Average time-to-fill is 49 days.
Hire Physician Assistants in Tampa
“Healthcare workforce shortages continue to drive demand for qualified professionals across all specialties, making recruitment a critical priority for healthcare organizations.”— Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA National Health Workforce Analysis, 2024
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