Physician Assistant salary in California
Physician Assistants in California earn a median of $165,650 a year ($79.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $99,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,190 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $135,880. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for physician assistants pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.75 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $169,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,380 | $47.78 |
| 25th percentile | $136,730 | $65.73 |
| Median | $165,650 | $79.64 |
| 75th percentile | $206,990 | $99.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,190 | $108.27 |
| Average (mean) | $169,110 | $81.30 |
Half of physician assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,804.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,902.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,371.15 |
| Weekly | $3,185.58 |
| Hourly | $79.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $165,650 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physician Assistant salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $223,640 | 1,030 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $198,070 | 350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $184,380 | 1,830 |
| Yuba City, CA | $183,460 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | $179,520 | 150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $172,750 | 140 |
| Napa, CA | $172,170 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $170,180 | 130 |
| Visalia, CA | $166,510 | 100 |
| Modesto, CA | $165,730 | 210 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $165,490 | 1,020 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $165,160 | 1,370 |
| Chico, CA | $164,780 | 130 |
| Merced, CA | $164,080 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $162,790 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $162,110 | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,890 | 3,890 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $161,470 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $161,470 | 1,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $159,030 | 120 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $158,360 | 210 |
| El Centro, CA | $156,730 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $155,440 | 360 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $154,760 | 210 |
| Redding, CA | $150,010 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 |
| California | $165,650 |
| Washington | $164,360 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 |
| New York | $160,880 |
| Oregon | $155,780 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 |
| Alaska | $150,700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| Pharmacist | $164,610 | $79.14 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,190 | $59.71 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 | $135.38 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $124,930 | $60.06 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $104,820 | $50.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,970 | $57.20 |
| Dentists, General | $165,950 | $79.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $124,510 | $59.86 |
| Veterinarian | $163,920 | $78.81 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $98,850 | $47.52 |
| Optometrist | $136,300 | $65.53 |
| Pediatricians, General | $214,140 | $102.95 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in California?
The median salary for physician assistants in California is $165,650 a year, or $79.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $99,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in California?
The top 10% of physician assistants in California earn at least $225,190 a year. The top 25% earn $206,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $99,380 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $136,730 or less.
How many physician assistants work in California?
About 13,600 physician assistants are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.