Physician Assistant salary in California
Physician Assistants in California earn a median of $77.44 per hour, about $161,080 a year, 21% above the U.S. median of $64.07. The middle half earn between $62.51 and $95.00 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in Vallejo, CA, at $86.80 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $77.44median pay per hour
- $161,080median pay per year
- 13,570physician assistants employed in California
- #2of 50 states by median pay
Physician Assistant pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $45.61 | $94,870 | $45.79 |
| Lower quartile | $62.51 | $130,020 | $54.70 |
| Median | $77.44 | $161,080 | $64.07 |
| Upper quartile | $95.00 | $197,600 | $77.00 |
| Top 10% | $105.43 | $219,290 | $87.60 |
Physician Assistant pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $86.80 | $180,540 | 130 | 12% above | $80.02 |
| Modesto, CA | $85.83 | $178,520 | 200 | 11% above | $82.44 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $80.33 | $167,090 | 1,980 | 4% above | $69.48 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $80.16 | $166,730 | 1,160 | 4% above | $75.31 |
| Salinas, CA | $78.70 | $163,700 | 170 | 2% above | $72.17 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $78.46 | $163,190 | 160 | 1% above | $72.79 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76.57 | $159,270 | 250 | 1% below | $75.90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $75.20 | $156,410 | 40 | 3% below | $74.01 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75.10 | $156,210 | 4,710 | 3% below | $66.13 |
| El Centro, CA | $74.42 | $154,790 | 40 | 4% below | — |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $73.86 | $153,630 | 760 | 5% below | $69.24 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $73.81 | $153,530 | 1,100 | 5% below | $65.97 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $73.19 | $152,240 | 100 | 5% below | $67.40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $72.52 | $150,840 | 130 | 6% below | $66.66 |
| Fresno, CA | $72.43 | $150,650 | 350 | 6% below | $70.90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $72.41 | $150,610 | 150 | 6% below | $65.51 |
| Redding, CA | $72.30 | $150,380 | 60 | 7% below | $71.81 |
| Yuba City, CA | $71.61 | $148,960 | 40 | 8% below | $68.70 |
| Chico, CA | $71.33 | $148,370 | 80 | 8% below | $70.49 |
| Visalia, CA | $70.84 | $147,350 | 90 | 9% below | $70.96 |
| Merced, CA | $70.45 | $146,530 | 50 | 9% below | $71.69 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $66.56 | $138,440 | 130 | 14% below | $63.34 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Physician Assistant pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 62roles with published pay
- $86.92median pay per hour
- $72–$107typical published range
- 13employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| One Medical | 35 | $86.92 |
| Stanford Children's Health | 4 | $104.30 |
| Kaweah Delta Health Care District | 4 | $91.13 |
| MarinHealth | 4 | $100.70 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 3 | $92.12 |
| Valley Children's Healthcare | 3 | $103.69 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 2 | $96.72 |
| Enloe Medical Center | 2 | $91.75 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 62 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Physician Assistant jobs in California · Physician Assistant salary nationwide · California state guide · California licensing guide
Common questions
How much does a physician assistant make in California?
The median is $77.44 per hour, about $161,080 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $45.61 and the top 10% earn over $105.43 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays physician assistants the most?
Among California metro areas, Vallejo, CA has the highest median at $86.80 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for physician assistant pay?
California ranks 2nd of 50 states by median physician assistant pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
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Your PA pay reportCalifornia · 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
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.