California Median
$165,650
per year
Hourly Rate
$79.64
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+22% vs US median
US median $135,880
State Rank
#2 of 51
13,600 employed here
How much does a Physician Assistant make in California?
Physician Assistants in California take home a median of $165,650 annually — roughly $79.64 an hour — which runs 22% above the national median of $135,880.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $99,380 while the top 10% make $225,190 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $136,730 and $206,990 a year.
Physician Assistant salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,380 | $47.78 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $136,730 | $65.74 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $165,650 | $79.64 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $206,990 | $99.51 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,190 | $108.26 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories for Physician Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Physician Assistant salary in other states
New Jersey $165,690Washington $164,360Hawaii $164,050New York $160,880Oregon $155,780New Hampshire $150,960Alaska $150,700Vermont $150,490Massachusetts $142,410Montana $141,470Minnesota $141,190Rhode Island $139,930New Mexico $139,920Connecticut $139,860Delaware $139,350Maryland $137,560Oklahoma $136,550Wyoming $136,080Virginia $135,940District of Columbia $135,140Missouri $135,130Iowa $134,770Utah $134,740Nevada $134,660Arizona $134,650Texas $134,550Colorado $134,540Wisconsin $133,950Idaho $133,790North Dakota $133,450South Dakota $133,200Nebraska $133,040Ohio $132,090Indiana $132,050Illinois $131,950Michigan $131,510Maine $131,170Florida $129,620North Carolina $129,360Louisiana $128,870West Virginia $128,610Pennsylvania $127,070Kansas $125,640South Carolina $122,490Kentucky $120,760Arkansas $118,430Tennessee $118,240Georgia $115,390Mississippi $105,920Alabama $104,960
Working as a Physician Assistant in California
Nationally, about 162,000 people work as Physician Assistants in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($165,650) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physician Assistant make in California?
The median Physician Assistant salary in California is $165,650 per year, or about $79.64 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $99,380 at the entry level to $225,190 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Physician Assistants about 22% more than the national median of $135,880. California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Physician Assistants?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $165,650 a year. About 13,600 Physician Assistants are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Physician Assistant salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.