Physician assistant compensation is nearly $100,000 on average across the U.S. amid a nationwide shortage of doctors that are needed to treat millions of newly insured Americans.

A new state-by-state statistical profile of the profession from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants said the median PA salary was $95,000 for 2014, the most recent year such information was tallied for this year’s new profile.

But the salaries are rising even faster in certain areas of the U.S. for physician assistants, known in the industry, according to the commission, which certifies physician assistants. PAs in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Arizona and Alaska have a median salary of $105,000.

The six-figure PA salary contrasts to just a few years ago when they were making $87,000 in 2010 and $71,000 in 2001 , the commission said, citing statistics from the National Bureau of Labor Statistics. The commission’s profile didn’t include a historical look.

“The demand for PAs continues to grow,” said Dawn Morton-Rias, a physician assistant and chief executive of the commission (NCCPA). “Not only because of the physician shortage and maldistribution, but also because in our nearly 50-year history, we have proven ourselves.” see full article