Per diemPosted 29 days ago
(Advanced Practitioner) Physician Assistant - Cardiac Surgery (Per Diem, Days)
Enloe Medical Center · Chico, CA
$84.82–$114.50/ hour
Top 25% pay
Physician Assistant jobs in Chico, CA
Physician Assistants in the Chico area earn a median of $71.33 per hour, about $148,370 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $65.80 and $86.38. That ranks 34th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 42nd of 301 once local prices are factored in. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Chico. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Chico.
- $71.33median pay per hour, Chico
- $66–$86typical range per hour
- 80physician assistants employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay
Open Physician Assistant roles in Chico
PermanentPosted 29 days ago
(Advanced Practitioner) Physician Assistant - Surgical Oncology Colorectal (Full-Time, Exempt)
Enloe Medical Center · Chico, CA
$71.36–$96.33/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
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Named employers near Chico, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportPhysician Assistant pay in Chico, CA
The metro median is 8% below the California statewide median of $77.44 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 80 physician assistants employed in the Chico metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.06).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $47.38 | $98,550 | 26% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $65.80 | $136,860 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Median | $71.33 | $148,370 | 11% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $86.38 | $179,670 | 35% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $88.98 | $185,080 | 39% above U.S. median |
How Chico ranks
- 34th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 42nd of 301 after adjusting for local prices
- 18th 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 Chico
- Overall prices in Chico run 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.2, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $71.33 median hour buys what $70.49 buys at the national price level, 10% 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 Chico paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,568
- Per year: $128,394
- Per month: $10,700
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chico metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Chico
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Chico
CMS lists 1 hospital in Chico, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enloe Health Chico, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Butte County
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Butte County (3 geographic, 6 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CA | 44 mi | $71.61/hr | 69,148 |
| Redding, CA | 63 mi | $72.30/hr | 93,502 |
| Lincoln, CA | 67 mi | $73.86/hr | 56,268 |
| Rocklin, CA | 72 mi | $73.86/hr | 75,129 |
| Roseville, CA | 73 mi | $73.86/hr | 163,304 |
| Woodland, CA | 75 mi | $73.86/hr | 62,983 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Chico
Chico city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do physician assistants make in Chico, CA?
Physician Assistants in the Chico metro area have a median pay of $71.33 per hour, about $148,370 a year. The middle half earn between $65.80 and $86.38 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chico a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?
Chico ranks 42nd of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 34th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring physician assistants in Chico?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Chico. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Chico.
Do I need a California license to work in Chico 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 Chico in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Butte 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 Chico?
The federal per diem benchmark in Chico is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Chico?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chico and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chico.
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What do employers near Chico pay physician assistants? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ Physician Assistant roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your PA pay reportChico, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Enloe Medical CenterChico, CA · 2 postings$91.75/ hr$71–$114
- 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
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
- Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant - Primary Care (Full time) Lakewood, CAPermanent$131k–$160k/ year
- Family Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Sign-On Bonus Available - 4 days in clinic, 1 day remoteRemote$165k–$197k/ year
+ 60 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.