Locum tenens for physician assistants: Freedom without losing benefits
Many physician assistants appreciate the stability of working for a healthcare organization, but did you know that you can be your own boss while also receiving benefits? PAs who work locum tenens with Weatherby are considered W-2 employees, so you’ll get healthcare coverage while also choosing your own assignments.
Why should you work locum tenens as a physician assistant?
Choose your assignments
From primary care to surgical specialties, you can choose which clinical environment you work in and for how long.
Work where you want
From large hospitals to rural clinics, broaden your experience and impact.
Enjoy work-life balance
Take time off between contracts or work consecutive assignments.
Increase earning potential
PA locum jobs often pay more than salaried staff roles.
Navigate transitions
Ideal for switching specialties, relocating, or seeking variety in your career.
Read more: Why PAs love locum tenens jobs
Where physician assistants work
PAs practice across nearly every care setting, and the work environment often defines the assignment’s pace, patient mix, and degree of autonomy. Many PAs work in hospitals, where clinical acuity is higher and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams is constant. Others work in outpatient clinics and specialty practices, where schedules are more structured and patient relationships are built over time.
PAs are also increasingly embedded in urgent care centers, community health clinics, rural health facilities, and telemedicine platforms.
PA specialties and subspecialties
Common PA specialties and subspecialties include:
Primary care
Emergency medicine
Urgent care
Surgery
Hospital medicine
Psychiatry and behavioral health
Women’s health
Dermatology
Oncology and hematology
Cardiology and pulmonology
Gastroenterology
Orthopedics and sports medicine
Physician assistant salary and job outlook
Physician assistants enjoy strong earning potential and excellent long-term job prospects in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median national wage for PAs was $133,260 as of May 2024. Income can vary depending on specialty, setting, location, and experience. Locum physician assistant jobs typically earn more due to short-term demand and flexible scheduling.
Looking forward, demand for physician assistants is projected to grow significantly. BLS forecasts a 20% increase in employment from 2024 to 2034, far above the average for all jobs.
Why physician assistants choose Weatherby Healthcare
Physician assistants work in some of the most demanding clinical environments, and the right staffing partner can significantly influence your experience, workload, and earning potential.
At Weatherby Healthcare, we give you the freedom to shape your career while still enjoying the pay, stability, and benefits of a W-2 role.
Benefits of working with Weatherby to find PA jobs
For more than 30 years, Weatherby has been connecting physician assistants with rewarding locum opportunities. If you’ve ever asked, “Are there physician assistant jobs near me?” we can help you answer that. We understand credentialing, collaborative agreements, and all the other details that make PA assignments successful.
Here are some of the reasons PAs choose to work locum tenens jobs with Weatherby:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) with match
Life insurance
Malpractice insurance with tail coverage
Workers’ compensation provided for every assignment
Booked flights, coordinated car rentals, or mileage reimbursement
Housing arranged for you
Licensing and privileging help
24/7 travel and housing support
Onboarding and ongoing assignment support
Decades of experience placing PAs in high-demand settings
A reputation built on trust, responsiveness, and long-term relationships
A culture that values providers and patients alike
Find out how PAs can earn more, work less, and find balance with locum tenens
What physician assistants are saying about working with Weatherby
Attentive support
“My experience has been outstanding. The team managing my travel and housing is incredibly attentive. They always check in before confirmations and make sure every detail is correct. My recruiter has been exceptional, staying in constant contact and handling any questions or issues immediately. It feels like I have a whole team dedicated to supporting me and making each assignment seamless so I can focus entirely on patient care.”
–Stacy Hicks, PA
Great benefits
“I had health insurance and the 401(k) option for investments. I felt like I was just a full-time employee that had the opportunity to go to other hospitals and learn even more ways to perform heart surgery.”
–Lauren Whitley, PA-C
Dedicated team
“My consultant didn’t just handle the paperwork, she went above and beyond, helping with housing issues like a broken washer and even a ceiling leak, making sure everything was resolved properly. Her daily check-ins and constant support made me feel like I truly had a dedicated team looking out for me. That level of care and attention is why I chose Weatherby and why I continue to work with them.”
–Dave Bosch, PA
Locum tenens PA frequently asked questions
Staffing agencies make finding locums assignments easier and provide things like:
A consultant dedicated to your goals and preferences
Licensing and credentialing fees covered
Full malpractice coverage with tail insurance
Housing and travel assistance for every assignment
Seamless onboarding with ongoing support
At Weatherby, our representatives are themselves specialists in their specialty. We leverage nationwide connections with healthcare facilities, including positions not publicly listed, to find the right opportunities for PAs.
By listening closely to your career goals, preferred locations, and schedule, we identify assignments that fit both your skills and lifestyle. This personalized approach ensures you are matched with locum tenens PA jobs that align with your professional ambitions and personal priorities.
There are many ways that Weatherby supports PAs on assignment and beyond. To begin, Weatherby assigns every PA a consultant who manages the logistical, administrative, and operational components of onboarding for each job.
Support includes:
Handling credentialing, licensing, and privileging
Coordinating with medical directors on collaborative agreements
Aligning expectations with facility leadership
Troubleshooting issues before they disrupt your assignment
Unlike agencies that hand you a contract and disappear, Weatherby operates as a full-service partner. We:
Manage travel
Secure housing
Handle paperwork
Verify licenses
Advocate for PA locum providers when site conditions change
Partnering with an agency lets you focus on patient care while the agency handles the job search. For instance, at Weatherby Healthcare, we bring extensive connections, insider knowledge of pay rates and industry trends, and expertise in navigating assignments to help you find opportunities that align with your skills, goals, and lifestyle—with minimal effort on your part.
Working with Weatherby to find PA jobs costs you nothing. It is free!
Yes. Many locum tenens positions offer benefits comparable to those of traditional employment, especially for W-2 clinicians. Depending on the agency or facility, PAs can receive health, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, and malpractice insurance.
As a W-2 Weatherby PA, you receive:
Comprehensive malpractice insurance with tail coverage
Healthcare coverage
401(k) access with company match
Hourly pay with overtime eligibility
Simplified payroll and taxes
Telehealth opportunities for PAs
Telehealth work is growing for physician assistants, expanding patient care through secure video or phone visits. Remote physician assistant jobs are especially valuable in urgent care, primary care, and chronic condition follow-up.
Weatherby connects PAs with nationwide telehealth opportunities, providing support for licensing, credentialing, and scheduling so you can deliver care confidently and efficiently from virtually anywhere.
Weatherby is Joint Commission certified and a member of NALTO
Weatherby is a member of the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations, or NALTO, the only professional association of temporary staffing firms. It is committed to a code of ethics and maintaining the highest industry standards.
Learn more about locum tenens for physician assistants
Best of all, it’s free so you have nothing to lose
Our healthcare staffing services cost you nothing and require no commitment. Try it out and experience the benefits yourself!
Thank you,
We appreciate you contacting us. A consultant will be reaching out to you shortly to discuss this job opportunity. You can also get in touch with us directly by calling 954.618.5296.