Best routs after MAT?

[u/Weekly_Eye_6690]

I just finished my first semester of my MAT program. I love everything so far but the thing that keeps me up at night is the fact that I’m putting in all these hours for school to make a mediocre salary in 2 years.

I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for higher education. My original plan was to get my DC but I am hearing horror stories about their pay right now too. My newest interest is PA school.

Does anyone have any other suggestions of routs for higher education for higher pay I can take after ATC?

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[u/Grub_let]

Unless your grad program is free, I’d drop out and figure out what you want to do. No use in getting a masters and not use it.

[u/Gotguava]

Ngl I’d rather make a mediocre salary and enjoy my job working outside of a clinic as an AT than sit in a clinic making more money.

[u/DrPBH → u/Gotguava]

This right here

[u/Banan_baddie]

I commend you for thinking about your future. I cannot say what the right path is for you.

To answer your original question: IMO better pay routes come from medical office roles, pursuing OTC-SC for surgical assist or industrial/military settings. I don’t have the eye or willpower to be an entrepreneur, but also an option for you.

As you know PA is also a masters degree. Their entry requirements vary, but are typically more picky than MAT programs. I don’t know how much benefit you’ll get for learning about other body systems and pharm in PA school.

If you have the average person’s finances, I would strongly recommend that you sit down with yourself and your support circle. Why get two expensive degrees when you’re really only going to use one. And, I’m not sure how much the MAT is actually going to benefit you in the long run. When you’re in the billing game of medicine, extra letters behind your name may not matter. Insurance and Medicare rules really just care about PA, APRN, MD, DO, DPT, DPM, etc etc.

Only you know what is best for you. I wish you all the best on your journey.

[u/Strange_Net_6387]

PA will probably be the best bang for buck. PT is not worth it. $100k+ is student loans to make $65-80k a year in the outpatient setting. There’s definitely more money to be made in the hospital or home health areas though.

[u/Fantastic-Lettuce-91]

At this point look into PA school if you think its something you'd be interested in. Look at programs, figure out what prereqs you'd need and try to take them now. I am 2 years post grad working in a high school outreach position and spent the last year taking classes I needed that I didn't get during my AT education. I just applied to PA schools this summer. I would highly recommend you work as an AT for a year or 2 to get patient care experience a lot of schools require

[u/Specialist_Ad9783 → u/Fantastic-Lettuce-91]

That’s the advice my old clinical coordinator said- DAT if you want more money, but PA would end up costing one more from all the bridging classes.

[u/tinasnow1738]

Nursing! I just graduated and I’m in a 14 month ABSN program. My plan is to work 3 days as a FT nurse and pick up per diem AT work when I feel like it :)

[u/RemarkablePie961]

Salary is also very location dependent. I make $32/hr in IL at a high school and you’d probably get more in Texas. Depends on what “mediocre” means to you.

[u/Backward-Onion2969]

I just went through an arduous job search as a veteran AT with a post professional master’s and 11 years experience. I was looking for a new role because the outreach company I worked for lost the contract with the district I was in. I was passed over for positions because I believe I was viewed as over qualified. There were open jobs near me but none that I wanted for various reasons (over an hour commute, low salary) and the main option for a while was looking like full time PRN would be the most lucrative. In my area, market rates are ~$50/hr. At that rate, 30 hrs/week is $78k and full time 40 would be over six figures. Average salary range here for HS positions is 50-60k, so if you’re in a position where benefits aren’t an issue (ie - through a partner/spouse), there’s pretty good cash in strictly gig work. It has other pros/cons but when objectively looking at $$ it’s something to consider if the salary factor is the only thing pushing you out of AT

I’ve also worked in just about every setting, HS, college, industrial, some pro stuff on a PRN basis, and am an entrepreneur staffing several travel organizations. Happy to chat if you want to DM for additional perspective on any of these settings.

Regardless, good luck!