Physician Assistants Salary in California
Physician Assistants in California earn a median annual wage of $165,650 —21.9% above the national median of $135,880. That ranks CA #2 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.72× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $165,690 | $79.66 | 4,790 | 1.07 |
| 2 | California | $165,650 | $79.64 | 13,600 | 0.72 |
| 3 | Washington | $164,360 | $79.02 | 3,540 | 0.96 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $164,050 | $78.87 | 530 | 0.81 |
| 5 | New York | $160,880 | $77.35 | 19,140 | 1.90 |
| 6 | Oregon | $155,780 | $74.89 | 2,250 | 1.09 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $150,960 | $72.58 | 1,060 | 1.49 |
| 8 | Alaska | $150,700 | $72.45 | 700 | 2.07 |
| 9 | Vermont | $150,490 | $72.35 | 410 | 1.30 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $142,410 | $68.47 | 4,470 | 1.18 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $140,270 | $97,550 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $79,750 | $64,400 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $55,110 | $45,750 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 | $265,930 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $76,010 | $62,930 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $168,520 | $132,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do physician assistants make in California?
The median annual wage for physician assistants in California is $165,650, or $79.64 per hour. That is 21.9% above the national median of $135,880.
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $99,380 per year ($47.78/hour). The 25th percentile is $136,730.
How many people work as physician assistants in California?
About 13,600 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for physician assistants?
California ranks #2 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.72x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Which state pays physician assistants the most?
New Jersey has the highest median wage at $165,690 per year, followed by California ($165,650) and Washington ($164,360).