How much does a physician assistant make in California?
$165,700a year
Median yearly pay for physician assistants in California. That is $79.64 an hour or $13,800 a month.
- Hourly
- $79.64
- Vs. national median
- +22%
- Rank among states
- 2 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 13,600
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $99,380Median: $165,700Highest 10%: $225,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $99,380 | $47.78 | |
| 25th | $136,700 | $65.74 | |
| Median | $165,700 | $79.64 | |
| 75th | $207,000 | $99.51 | |
| 90th | $225,200 | $108.26 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $223,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $198,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $184,400 |
| Yuba City, CA | $183,500 |
| Vallejo, CA | $179,500 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $172,800 |
| Napa, CA | $172,200 |
| Salinas, CA | $170,200 |
| Visalia, CA | $166,500 |
| Modesto, CA | $165,700 |
| Riverside, CA | $165,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $165,200 |
| Chico, CA | $164,800 |
| Merced, CA | $164,100 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $162,800 |
| Stockton, CA | $162,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $161,900 |
| Hanford, CA | $161,500 |
| Sacramento, CA | $161,500 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $159,000 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $158,400 |
| El Centro, CA | $156,700 |
| Fresno, CA | $155,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $154,800 |
| Redding, CA | $150,000 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for physician assistants.
| 1. New Jersey | $165,700 |
| 2. California | $165,700 |
| 3. Washington | $164,400 |
| 4. Hawaii | $164,100 |
| 5. New York | $160,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $79.64 ($165,700 a year).
Do physician assistants make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $165,700 against $135,900 nationally, 22% more.
Where does California rank for physician assistant pay?
California ranks 2 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays physician assistants the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $223,600 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.