PWS Task 2 · Market Benchmarking
Where VHA leads — and where it lags — the clinical labor market.
Each occupation is matched to its survey benchmark, then scored on the metrics compensation teams actually use: the percentile range (P10–P90), the median, compa-ratio (VHA pay ÷ market median), and range penetration. The diamond shows where VHA sits today.
8
Lagging market
compa-ratio < 0.96
7
At market
0.96 – 1.04
0
Leading market
compa-ratio > 1.04
| Occupation | Market range (P10–P90) | Median | VHA | Compa | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Registered Nurse (Staff) Nursing | $68K$128K | $91,000 | $86,500 | 0.95 | Lagging market 31% range pen. |
Nurse Practitioner Advanced Practice Providers | $108K$168K | $132,000 | $124,000 | 0.94 | Lagging market 27% range pen. |
Physician Assistant Advanced Practice Providers | $104K$162K | $128,000 | $122,000 | 0.95 | Lagging market 31% range pen. |
CRNA Advanced Practice Providers | $178K$275K | $222,000 | $203,000 | 0.91 | Lagging market 26% range pen. |
Clinical Pharmacist Pharmacy | $118K$172K | $142,000 | $138,000 | 0.97 | At market 37% range pen. |
Psychologist Behavioral & Mental Health | $92K$150K | $116,000 | $112,000 | 0.97 | At market 34% range pen. |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Behavioral & Mental Health | $62K$105K | $80,000 | $79,000 | 0.99 | At market 40% range pen. |
Physical Therapist Allied Health & Therapies | $78K$122K | $96,000 | $90,000 | 0.94 | Lagging market 27% range pen. |
Medical Technologist (Lab) Diagnostic & Laboratory | $58K$96K | $74,000 | $71,000 | 0.96 | Lagging market 34% range pen. |
Diagnostic Radiologic Tech Diagnostic & Laboratory | $56K$94K | $72,000 | $68,000 | 0.94 | Lagging market 32% range pen. |
Respiratory Therapist Allied Health & Therapies | $60K$98K | $76,000 | $72,000 | 0.95 | Lagging market 32% range pen. |
Pharmacy Technician Pharmacy | $38K$64K | $49,000 | $47,500 | 0.97 | At market 37% range pen. |
Medical Support Assistant Patient Care Support | $36K$59K | $46,000 | $45,000 | 0.98 | At market 39% range pen. |
Nursing Assistant Patient Care Support | $33K$55K | $42,000 | $41,500 | 0.99 | At market 39% range pen. |
Health Informatics Specialist Administration & Operations | $84K$148K | $110,000 | $108,000 | 0.98 | At market 38% range pen. |
§7431 Physician Market Pay
VA pay vs. market median, by specialty.
Each point is a specialty. The dashed line is parity — points below it mean VA market pay trails the commercial median, exactly the gap §7431 compensation panels exist to close. Shortage-risk coloring flags where that gap matters most.
Illustrative blended SullivanCotter / MGMA / AMGA percentiles. Production panels use licensed survey vintages aged to a common effective date.