How much does a physician assistant make in San Diego?
$165,200a year
Median yearly pay for physician assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $79.40 an hour or $13,760 a month.
- Hourly
- $79.40
- Vs. national median
- +22%
- Rank among cities
- 16 of 348
- Jobs in the area
- 1,370
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $109,800Median: $165,200Highest 10%: $214,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $109,800 | $52.76 | |
| 25th | $135,700 | $65.25 | |
| Median | $165,200 | $79.40 | |
| 75th | $204,900 | $98.52 | |
| 90th | $214,600 | $103.16 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for physician assistants.
| San Jose, CA | $223,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $198,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $184,400 |
| 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 |
| Chico, CA | $164,800 |
| Merced, CA | $164,100 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $162,800 |
| Stockton, CA | $162,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $161,900 |
| Sacramento, CA | $161,500 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $159,000 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $158,400 |
| Fresno, CA | $155,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $154,800 |
| Redding, CA | $150,000 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Cardiologist | $493,700 |
| Psychiatrist | $335,600 |
| Physician | $333,300 |
| Physician | $323,100 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $295,500 |
| Obstetrician and Gynecologist | $293,400 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $282,200 |
| Pediatrician | $262,700 |
| Podiatrist | $235,400 |
| Dermatologist | $233,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $79.40 ($165,200 a year).
Do physician assistants make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $165,200 against $135,900 nationally, 22% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $165,700, so San Diego pays 0% more.
Where does San Diego rank for physician assistant pay?
16 of 348 metro areas with data.
How much does a physician assistant make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $109,800 or less a year; the top 10% make $214,600 or more.
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.