How much does a physician assistant make in Santa Cruz?
$159,000a year
Median yearly pay for physician assistants in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $76.46 an hour or $13,250 a month.
- Hourly
- $76.46
- Vs. national median
- +17%
- Rank among cities
- 31 of 348
- Jobs in the area
- 120
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $126,700Median: $159,000Highest 10%: $208,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $126,700 | $60.91 | |
| 25th | $137,100 | $65.93 | |
| Median | $159,000 | $76.46 | |
| 75th | $167,300 | $80.45 | |
| 90th | $208,800 | $100.37 |
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 |
| 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 Maria, CA | $158,400 |
| Fresno, CA | $155,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $154,800 |
| Redding, CA | $150,000 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $431,000 |
| Physician | $305,600 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $291,900 |
| Dentist | $176,000 |
| Registered Nurse | $171,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,200 |
| Veterinarian | $164,800 |
| Pharmacist | $161,900 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,900 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $76.46 ($159,000 a year).
Do physician assistants make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $159,000 against $135,900 nationally, 17% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $165,700, so Santa Cruz pays 4% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for physician assistant pay?
31 of 348 metro areas with data.
How much does a physician assistant make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $126,700 or less a year; the top 10% make $208,800 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.