How much does a physician assistant make in San Francisco?
$184,400a year
Median yearly pay for physician assistants in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $88.64 an hour or $15,370 a month.
- Hourly
- $88.64
- Vs. national median
- +36%
- Rank among cities
- 3 of 348
- Jobs in the area
- 1,830
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $106,200Median: $184,400Highest 10%: $238,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $106,200 | $51.03 | |
| 25th | $157,000 | $75.48 | |
| Median | $184,400 | $88.64 | |
| 75th | $219,200 | $105.39 | |
| 90th | $238,000 | $114.41 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for physician assistants.
| San Jose, CA | $223,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $198,100 |
| 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 |
| 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 Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Ophthalmologist | $429,100 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $351,700 |
| Emergency Medicine Physician | $339,000 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $304,600 |
| Physician | $294,400 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $239,200 |
| Psychiatrist | $230,600 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $219,100 |
| Nurse Midwive | $212,600 |
| Veterinarian | $208,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $88.64 ($184,400 a year).
Do physician assistants make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $184,400 against $135,900 nationally, 36% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $165,700, so San Francisco pays 11% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for physician assistant pay?
3 of 348 metro areas with data.
How much does a physician assistant make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $106,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $238,000 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.