Physician Assistants Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$99,380
- 25th Percentile — Junior$136,730
- 50th Percentile — Median$165,650
- 75th Percentile — Senior$206,990
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$225,190
Half of Physician Assistants in California earn more than $165,650. The top 10% make $225,190 or more, while entry-level workers start around $99,380.
Physician Assistants in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 51 states for Physician Assistants pay, at $169,110 per year (19.7% above the U.S. average of $141,280).
- 13,600 people work as Physician Assistants in California — 8.4% of all U.S. Physician Assistants jobs.
- Location quotient 0.72: Physician Assistants jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $99,380; the top 10% earn over $225,190.
- Hourly equivalent: $81.3 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).
Physician Assistants Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Physician Assistants here earn $169,110 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $169,110 is roughly equivalent to $119,092 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($164,430), New Jersey ($162,100), Oregon ($155,300) are the closest alternatives for Physician Assistants weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Psychiatrists $315,380/yr California +86.5% vs this role
- Radiologists $309,990/yr California +83.3% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $283,780/yr California +67.8% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $273,270/yr California +61.6% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $272,520/yr California +61.1% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $255,620/yr California +51.2% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $252,930/yr California +49.6% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $249,620/yr California +47.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Physician Assistants salary in California?
The average Physician Assistants salary in California is $169,110 per year (median $165,650), which is 19.7% above the national average of $141,280.
How does California rank for Physician Assistants pay?
California ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($169,110/yr).
How much do entry-level Physician Assistants make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Physician Assistants in California earn about $99,380 per year and the 25th percentile is $136,730.
How much do Physician Assistants make per hour in California?
About $81.3 per hour, based on the $169,110 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Physician Assistants work in California?
BLS counts 13,600 Physician Assistants jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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