How much does a physician make in California?
$281,600a year
Median yearly pay for physicians in California. That is $135.38 an hour or $23,470 a month.
- Hourly
- $135.38
- Vs. national median
- +6%
- Rank among states
- 26 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 25,530
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $80,590Median: $281,600Highest 10%: $432,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $80,590 | $38.75 | |
| 25th | $98,870 | $47.53 | |
| Median | $281,600 | $135.38 | |
| 75th | $340,700 | $163.81 | |
| 90th | $432,000 | $207.68 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $421,500 |
| Salinas, CA | $385,000 |
| El Centro, CA | $370,300 |
| Chico, CA | $335,000 |
| Modesto, CA | $323,600 |
| San Diego, CA | $323,100 |
| Fresno, CA | $315,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $308,300 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $305,600 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $297,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $294,400 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $290,300 |
| Redding, CA | $287,100 |
| Riverside, CA | $279,100 |
| Merced, CA | $273,100 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $269,000 |
| Napa, CA | $239,200 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $196,800 |
| Vallejo, CA | $194,500 |
| Oxnard, CA | $193,900 |
| San Jose, CA | $98,870 |
| Stockton, CA | $80,190 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for physicians.
| 23. Iowa | $295,200 |
| 24. Nebraska | $290,500 |
| 25. New Jersey | $285,000 |
| 26. California | $281,600 |
| 27. Virginia | $278,500 |
| 28. South Carolina | $274,500 |
| 29. Alabama | $272,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $135.38 ($281,600 a year).
Do physicians make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $281,600 against $265,900 nationally, 6% more.
Where does California rank for physician pay?
California ranks 26 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays physicians the most?
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, with a median of $421,500 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.