The data in the article is fairly confusing, but it seems like their conclusion is based on it basically being a wash based on Net Present Value calculations, a

The data in the article is fairly confusing, but it seems like their conclusion is based on it basically being a wash based on Net Present Value calculations, and getting it basically being a wash (1% difference between a PA and an MD for women with their assumptions). However, they picked an expensive private medical school (Duke) for their calculations to reach that. It also makes assumptions (i.e. that a PA would work med-school / residency-level hours during those age ranges) that feel like they're overly likely to produce the result they were hunting for. The broader point that women on the whole tend to work fewer hours and have a wage gap later in their careers still holds, as does this mean that on average the pain of a grueling professional degree is less rewarded for women. This article feels like it was hunting for a conclusion and played a few tricks to get there, more than anything.