Stay or leave? New surgery job offer on east coast, HCOL
Current job:
Hospitalist PA in small rural hospital. 50 minute commute
12 12s a month but can work more if wanted (I often pick up an extra shift)
Usually 3 12s/week, 1.5 weekends per month
No PTO, OT or holiday pay
3-4 holidays a year
1.5% 401k match (not immediately vested. Need to be employed for full calendar year to get it)
No other benefits… CME, HSA etc
Low patient volume. 8-10 patients per day, low acuity, no codes or procedures. A lot of pneumonia, ACS rule outs, COPD/asthma, etc
Salary: 149k (i averaged 12.7 shifts a month last year)
New offer:
NSGY in bigger hospital system, 30 min commute
4x10s with 1 weekend per month. On that week you do have to work 6 days, but your hours are shortened (i.e. you work a half day before and after your weekend)
Split between OR, clinic, inpatient
Thorough onboarding and training period. Several months
Clinic days: 8-10 patients per day
OR days: usually 2-3 cases per day
Call 6 days per month. MD takes first call and any serious calls, but PAs will take things like post op questions after hours, inpatient med requests etc. $100/day for call
6% 401k match
$3500 CME
Incentive bonus of $5k/year for signing charge on time, giving printed discharge instructions, etc. allegedly very easily met
20 days PTO and 9 paid holidays
1 holiday per year (rotating) where you get 2x pay
Salary: $170k base. $182,000 after call pay + bonus
The job offer is really compelling. The group seems great, the PAs seem to have longevity here. Everyone in the group has been here >5 years. I am really interested in neurosurgery but have no experience in the field so taking the leap seems scary. I can’t tell if i have cold feet. I don’t think my current job is awful and feel lucky to have a low stress job that pays decently. But also the benefits are quite bad and i often feel bored and under valued /utilized here
Posted Jun 22, 2026, 5:59 PM UTC