Salaries › Physician Assistant › California
Physician Assistant Salary in California (2026)
$79.64 per hour · take-home ≈ $113,159/year ($9,430/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Physician Assistants (2nd of 51), with a median about 18% above the national average. Of the 13,600 Physician Assistant jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $165,650 a year — though pay ranges from $99,380 for newcomers to $225,190 at the top.
Physician Assistant pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $99,380 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $136,730 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $165,650 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $206,990 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $225,190 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 13,600 Physician Assistant jobs in California (occupation code 29-1071, “Physician Assistants”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Physician Assistant salary of $165,650 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $113,159 — an effective tax rate of 31.7%.
| Gross (median) | $165,650 |
| Federal income tax | −$28,490 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$12,672 |
| California state income tax | −$11,329 |
| Take-home (annual) | $113,159 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $9,430 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physician Assistant make in California?
- The median Physician Assistant salary in California is $165,650 per year ($79.64 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $136,730 and $206,990.
- What is the take-home pay for a Physician Assistant in California?
- On the median salary of $165,650, a single filer in California takes home about $113,159 per year ($9,430 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 31.7%.
- How many Physician Assistant jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 13,600 Physician Assistant jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Physician Assistants
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.