CA · Berkeley · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Berkeley, CA

Physician Assistants in the Berkeley area earn a median of $80.33 per hour, about $167,090 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $65.02 and $99.69. That ranks 3rd of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 62nd of 301 once local prices are factored in. 3 open roles with published pay are listed for Berkeley. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Berkeley.

Open Physician Assistant roles in Berkeley

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Physician Assistant pay in Berkeley, CA

The metro median is 4% above the California statewide median of $77.44 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 1,980 physician assistants employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.82).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$49.83$103,65022% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$65.02$135,2401% above U.S. median
Median$80.33$167,09025% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$99.69$207,36056% above U.S. median
Top 10%$105.92$220,31065% above U.S. median

How Berkeley ranks

  • 3rd of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 62nd of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 21 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Berkeley

  • Overall prices in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont run 16% above the U.S. average (index 115.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 95% above the U.S. average (index 194.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $80.33 median hour buys what $69.48 buys at the national price level, 8% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Berkeley paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,892
  • Per year: $144,594
  • Per month: $12,050

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Berkeley

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$145
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,659
13-week assignment$21,567

Travel physician assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Berkeley

CMS lists 1 hospital in Berkeley, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp
Berkeley, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Alameda County

HRSA lists 13 active primary care shortage designations that include Alameda County (13 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Physician Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Richmond, CA7 mi$80.33/hr115,353
Oakland, CA8 mi$80.33/hr443,554
Vallejo, CA17 mi$86.80/hr123,475

Physician Assistant jobs in California · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Berkeley

Berkeley city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Berkeley, CA?

Physician Assistants in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area have a median pay of $80.33 per hour, about $167,090 a year. The middle half earn between $65.02 and $99.69 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Berkeley a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks 62nd of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 3rd of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 16% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring physician assistants in Berkeley?

We list 3 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Berkeley. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Berkeley.

Do I need a California license to work in Berkeley as a physician assistant?

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Berkeley in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 13 active primary care shortage designations that include Alameda County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Berkeley?

The federal per diem benchmark in Berkeley is $145 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,659 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Berkeley?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Berkeley and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Berkeley.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · PA near Berkeley, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PA pay reportBerkeley, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 4 postings$104.30/ hr$94–$115
  • Valley Children's HealthcareMadera, CA · 3 postings$103.69/ hr$75–$123
  • MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 4 postings$100.70/ hr$86–$108
  • Sharp HealthcareLa Mesa, CA · 2 postings$96.72/ hr$80–$114

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$71Median$86.92High$108

62 PA postings with published pay in California, 58 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 62 PA roles

  1. Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant - Primary Care (Full time) Lakewood, CAPermanent
    $131k–$160k/ year
    MemorialCare · Lakewood, CA · posted yesterday
  2. Family Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Sign-On Bonus Available - 4 days in clinic, 1 day remoteRemote
    $165k–$197k/ year
    One Medical · Remote (CA hiring) · posted 2 days ago

+ 60 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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