Physician Assistants pay range in El Centro
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $124,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $193,750 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in El Centro earn between $136,290 and $172,220.
- $124K10th
- $136K25th
- $157KMedian
- $172K75th
- $194K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $151,160 | $12,597 | $72.67 |
| Median | $156,730 | $13,061 | $75.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $136,290 | $11,358 | $65.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $172,220 | $14,352 | $82.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in El Centro vs. California and the U.S.
Physician assistants in El Centro earn 11% less than the California average ($169,110) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($141,280). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro | $151,160 | $156,730 | $124,020 | $193,750 | 40 |
| California | $169,110 | $165,650 | $99,380 | $225,190 | 13,600 |
| United States | $141,280 | $135,880 | $99,380 | $190,280 | 162,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physician Assistants salary after taxes in El Centro
On the average salary of $151,160, a single filer in El Centro takes home about $104,618 a year, or $8,718 a month and $4,024 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is El Centro a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the El Centro area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.2), so the average $151,160 buys what about $158,825 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.5 times the median wage of all jobs in El Centro ($45,140). A typical home costs $379,330, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other California cities
El Centro ranks 20th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($207,660).
- San Jose$207,660
- Salinas$202,320
- San Francisco$182,610
- Vallejo$182,520
- Bakersfield$177,840
- Yuba City$174,990
- Napa$174,120
- Santa Rosa$171,940
- Modesto$168,960
- El Centro$151,160
Highest-paying cities for physician assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($207,660).
- San Jose, CA$207,660
- Salinas, CA$202,320
- San Francisco, CA$182,610
- Vallejo, CA$182,520
- Bakersfield, CA$177,840
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Physician Assistants salary in El Centro: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in El Centro?
$72.67 an hour on average, and $75.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in El Centro?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $124,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $136,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in El Centro?
About $104,618 a year ($8,718 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $151,160. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physician assistants earn more in El Centro than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($141,280).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1071; area El Centro, CA (20940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
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