Physician Assistant salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Physician Assistants in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $159,030 a year ($76.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $126,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $208,760 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 4% lower than the California statewide median of $165,650. There are 1.2 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $159,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $126,690 | $60.91 |
| 25th percentile | $137,130 | $65.93 |
| Median | $159,030 | $76.46 |
| 75th percentile | $167,330 | $80.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $208,760 | $100.36 |
| Average (mean) | $159,550 | $76.71 |
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 | $13,252.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,626.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,116.54 |
| Weekly | $3,058.27 |
| Hourly | $76.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $159,030 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 other metro areas nearby
| 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 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 |
See Physician Assistant pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | $82.19 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | $62.79 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,190 | $80.38 |
| Physicians, All Other | $305,610 | $146.93 |
| Pharmacist | $161,940 | $77.86 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,790 | $60.00 |
| Veterinarian | $164,820 | $79.24 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,670 | $57.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $130,420 | $62.70 |
| Dentists, General | $175,950 | $84.59 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,880 | $64.85 |
| Acupuncturist | $91,350 | $43.92 |
| Optometrist | $122,150 | $58.73 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $103,760 | $49.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $159,030 a year, or $76.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $126,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $208,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $208,760 a year. The top 25% earn $167,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $126,690 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $137,130 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 120 physician assistants are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.