$105,000 Physician Assistant Jobs in the USA with TN or H-1B Visa

April 14, 2026
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Overview: $105,000 Physician Assistant Jobs in the USA with TN or H-1B Visa

Physician Assistants (PAs) — now officially titled Physician Associates in some states — are advanced practice medical professionals who diagnose illnesses, develop treatment plans, prescribe medications, and assist in surgeries under physician supervision. The USA faces a growing shortage of PAs, and internationally trained medical professionals are increasingly sought after, especially in underserved rural and urban communities.

PAs in the United States earn between $90,000 and $140,000 per year on average, with those in surgical specialties, emergency medicine, and certain states earning significantly more. Both the H-1B visa and the TN visa (for Canadian and Mexican applicants) are valid pathways to work as a PA in the USA.

What Physician Assistants Do in the USA

  • Conduct comprehensive physical examinations
  • Order and interpret diagnostic tests (labs, imaging)
  • Diagnose acute and chronic conditions
  • Develop and manage patient treatment plans
  • Prescribe medications in all 50 states
  • Assist in surgical procedures and perform minor procedures
  • Educate patients and families on health management
  • Round on hospitalized patients in inpatient settings

Work Settings Hiring PAs

  • Hospital emergency departments and trauma centers
  • Surgical practices (orthopedics, cardiovascular, neurosurgery)
  • Primary care and family medicine clinics
  • Urgent care centers
  • Dermatology and cosmetic practices
  • Psychiatric and mental health facilities
  • Rural health clinics (federal shortage areas — easier visa processing)
  • Telehealth platforms (growing rapidly post-COVID)

Visa Pathways for International PAs

H-1B Visa: Physician Assistants clearly qualify as specialty occupation workers.

  • Requires minimum Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) or equivalent
  • Subject to annual H-1B cap and lottery
  • Many hospitals and health systems in underserved areas qualify for cap-exempt H-1B
  • Green card sponsorship (EB-2 or EB-3) often follows

TN Visa (Canada and Mexico only): Physician Assistants from Canada or Mexico can use the TN visa under USMCA.

  • No annual cap or lottery
  • Can be obtained at the US-Canada or US-Mexico border
  • Renewable in 3-year increments indefinitely
  • Faster and simpler than H-1B for eligible applicants

Requirements and Licensing

  • Graduate degree (Master’s) from an ARC-PA accredited PA program — or foreign equivalent assessed by NCCPA
  • Pass the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
  • Obtain state PA license from the relevant Medical Board
  • DEA registration required for prescribing controlled substances
  • Minimum 2 years of clinical experience in relevant specialty
  • English proficiency documentation may be required

Salary and Benefits

  • New Graduate PA: $90,000 – $105,000/year
  • Experienced PA (5+ years): $110,000 – $135,000/year
  • Surgical PA: $120,000 – $160,000/year
  • Emergency Medicine PA: $115,000 – $150,000/year
  • Dermatology PA: $115,000 – $145,000/year
  • Sign-on bonuses: $5,000 – $30,000 (especially in rural/underserved areas)
  • Malpractice insurance covered by employer
  • CME (Continuing Medical Education) allowance: $2,000–$5,000/year
  • Health, dental, vision insurance for PA and dependants
  • Retirement: 401(k) with employer matching
  • Student loan repayment programs at some federally qualified health centers

Top Employers Hiring International PAs

  • HCA Healthcare (nationwide — largest US hospital system)
  • Tenet Health
  • CommonSpirit Health
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) — cap-exempt for H-1B
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Indian Health Service (IHS)
  • Locum tenens agencies: Barton Associates, CompHealth, Staffmark

How to Apply

  1. Have your foreign PA qualifications assessed by NCCPA’s international credentials review
  2. Register for and pass the PANCE examination
  3. Apply for state licensure in your target state
  4. Search on PracticeMatch, PAJobSite, Indeed, and LinkedIn for sponsored roles
  5. Target FQHC and rural health clinics for cap-exempt H-1B processing
  6. Apply for TN visa at the US border if you hold Canadian or Mexican citizenship
  7. Explore J-1 waiver programs in underserved areas for faster immigration paths