21.9% higher than the US national median ($135,886)
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The median salary for Physician Assistants in California is $165,651 per year ($79.64/hr). This is 21.9% higher than the national median of $135,886.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
Wage Percentiles: California
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours) · National adjusted
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
vs National
P10Entry level
$47.78
$99,382
+0.0%
P25
$65.73
$136,718
+13.3%
P50MEDIAN
$79.64
$165,651
+21.9%
P75
$99.52
$207,002
+26.2%
P90Top earners
$108.27
$225,202
+18.4%
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P10–P90 breakdown, career outlook, industry wages, and JOLTS market signal for Physician Assistants
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Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+20.4%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
12K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
163K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
28% from new growth72% from people leaving the role
Mixed: openings come from both new growth and people exiting the role.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Offices of Physicians
NAICS 621100
87K
$132,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
NAICS 622100
41K
$141,090
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Full percentile breakdown · JOLTS market signals · Geographic comparison · AI analyst briefs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median physician assistants salary in California?
The median (P50) annual salary for Physician Assistants in California is approximately $165,651, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. This is 21.9% higher than the national median of $135,886. For the full P10–P90 breakdown and market context, open CompSignal.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.