Physician Assistants pay in California
In California, the median pay for physician assistants is $79.64 an hour ($165,650 a year). About 13,600 people work in this job there.
That is 22% higher than the U.S. median ($135,880). California ranks 2nd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for physician assistants in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $47.78 | $99,380 |
| 25% of workers | $65.73 | $136,730 |
| Half of workers (median) | $79.64 | $165,650 |
| 75% of workers | $99.52 | $206,990 |
| 90% of workers | $108.27 | $225,190 |
Physician Assistants pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $223,640 | 1,030 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $198,070 | 350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $184,380 | 1,830 |
| Yuba City | $183,460 | 40 |
| Vallejo | $179,520 | 150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $172,750 | 140 |
| Napa | $172,170 | 50 |
| Salinas | $170,180 | 130 |
| Visalia | $166,510 | 100 |
| Modesto | $165,730 | 210 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $165,490 | 1,020 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $165,160 | 1,370 |
| Chico | $164,780 | 130 |
| Merced | $164,080 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $162,790 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $162,110 | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $161,890 | 3,890 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $161,470 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $161,470 | 1,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $159,030 | 120 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $158,360 | 210 |
| El Centro | $156,730 | 40 |
| Fresno | $155,440 | 360 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $154,760 | 210 |
| Redding | $150,010 | 70 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for physician assistants
- Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +21.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 11,500 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $140,270 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $168,520 |
| Pediatricians, General | $214,140 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $313,890 |
| Cardiologists | $185,610 |
| Pharmacists | $164,610 |
| Physical Therapists | $124,190 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $104,820 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.