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VSI
Virginia

Experienced Surgical Physician Assistant

Physician AssistantFull-Time

Listed compensation

$140K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

VSI is the premier Center of Excellence for spinal health care in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We are seeking an experienced Surgical Physician Assistant with 2–5 years of operating room experience to join our highly specialized team of spine surgeons and ten elite Physician Assistants.

This is an opportunity for an accomplished PA who enjoys complex surgery, thrives in a collaborative environment, and wants to practice at the highest level of their profession. You'll work alongside nationally recognized spine surgeons while caring for patients across the full continuum of care—from initial evaluation through surgery and postoperative recovery.

For more than 30 years, VSI has delivered exceptional spine care, improving the lives of over 100,000 patients through an unwavering commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and patient-centered outcomes. Our concierge, out-of-network practice prioritizes quality, precision, and individualized care over patient volume.

Why VSI

Elite Surgical Practice: Complex spinal pathology, cutting-edge surgical techniques, and hands-on operative experience utilizing advanced spinal technologies, including robotics, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence

Collaborative Culture: Work alongside experienced surgeons and fellow PAs in a highly supportive environment built on mutual respect, accountability, and shared clinical excellence.

Continuous Professional Growth: Benefit from ongoing education, collaboration, academic opportunities, and exposure to complex pathology that continually expands your clinical expertise.

Concierge-Level Care: Deep patient relationships, thoughtful decision-making, and the time to do things the right way

The Role

As an Experienced Surgical Physician Assistant, you will serve as a key member of the surgical team, managing patients throughout their spine care journey. This position combines a busy surgical practice with outpatient clinical responsibilities and requires strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills, and a passion for exceptional patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

First-assist responsibilities in complex spinal procedures, including discectomy, disc replacement, spinal fusion, instrumentation, detailed anatomic dissection, and wound closure

Participate in technologically advanced spine surgery incorporating robotics, augmented reality, and AI-driven planning and execution

  • Perform comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment planning for spine patients in the office
  • Interpret advanced diagnostic studies including MRI, CT, X-ray, laboratory results, and other imaging
  • Educate patients regarding diagnoses, treatment options, surgical procedures, and recovery expectations
  • Manage postoperative care, including follow-up visits, medication management, and care coordination
  • Collaborate closely with surgeons and multidisciplinary specialists to develop individualized treatment plans

Participate in clinical initiatives focused on quality improvement, innovation, and exceptional patient outcomes

Qualifications

  • Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program
  • NCCPA certification
  • Active Virginia Physician Assistant license (or eligibility)
  • 2–5 years of Physician Assistant experience with significant operating room and first assist responsibilities required
  • Ability to thrive in a high-acuity environment with strong clinical standards and team-based support
  • Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and clinical decision-making skills
  • A genuine commitment to excellence in patient care
  • This role is ideal for a Physician Assistant who:
  • Has built a strong surgical foundation and is ready for a more advanced clinical role
  • Enjoys challenging surgical cases and continuous clinical growth
  • Values collaboration, accountability, and excellence
  • Wants to be part of a nationally recognized spine practice that embraces innovation
  • Takes pride in delivering exceptional outcomes and creating an outstanding patient experience

We are intentional about the people we bring onto our team and invest heavily in those who join us. If you are an experienced Surgical Physician Assistant looking to elevate your career while working alongside some of the region's leading spine surgeons, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Surgical First-AssistClinical EvaluationDiagnostic Imaging InterpretationPatient EducationRobotic Surgery

Spine Surgery — Physician Assistant Career Context

Of the 50 active Physician Assistant listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 76% have no call, 78% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$140k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $138k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Physician Assistant market look like in Virginia?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.6 / 10 · top 25% in physician assistant rolesranked against 3,000 Physician Assistant roles listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$140kPhysician Assistant median $126k (middle half $110k–$155k)42 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$138k in purchasing powerVirginia index 101.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
All physician assistant listings in Virginia71 active3,089 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 2% remote · 76% no call · 78% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS physician assistant listings (all specialties): 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $15k) · 8% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
Physician Assistant pay trend (all specialties)+3.3% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
VSIsilver tier, 75/100Top Employers work-life index3 active listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (3,000 Physician Assistant roles listings), Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page. Virginia figures use all physician assistants: too few Virginia Spine Surgery postings state pay.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Experienced Surgical Physician Assistant at VSI a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Physician Assistant roles — ranked against 3,000 active Physician Assistant roles listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Physician Assistant Jobs

33 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

33 jobs · 15 employers
12
<$135k
5
$135k-155k
3
$155k-175k
8
$175k-195k
5
$195k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

33 jobs · 15 employers
401k / retirement match
97%
CME allowance
73%
Sign-on bonus
70%
Relocation assistance
27%
Loan repayment
12%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Clinic Director - Physician Assistant (PA-C) or Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Ageless Mens Health · Memphis, Tennessee

$210k
#2

Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant Inboxologist

Unity Care NW · Bellingham, Washington

$134k-$200k
#3

Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA) - Bangor/Brewer, ME

$110k-$200k
#4

Physician Assistant

$175k-$195k
+ 31 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.2this job 6.6
Better work-life than 80% of Physician Assistant roles listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,000 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

VSI logo

About VSI

Hospitals and Health Care
Reston, Virginia
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Collaborative Culture
Continuous Professional Growth
Concierge-Level Care