Physician Assistants pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $92,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $224,310 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in Modesto earn between $142,170 and $211,130.
- $93K10th
- $142K25th
- $166KMedian
- $211K75th
- $224K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $168,960 | $14,080 | $81.23 |
| Median | $165,730 | $13,811 | $79.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $142,170 | $11,848 | $68.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $211,130 | $17,594 | $101.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Physician assistants in Modesto earn about the same as the California average ($169,110) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($141,280). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $168,960 | $165,730 | $92,540 | $224,310 | 210 |
| 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 Modesto
On the average salary of $168,960, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $115,129 a year, or $9,594 a month and $4,428 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% 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 Modesto a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $168,960 buys what about $162,293 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 9th 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
- Stockton$166,570
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 Modesto: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in Modesto?
$81.23 an hour on average, and $79.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $92,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $142,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in Modesto?
About $115,129 a year ($9,594 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $168,960. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physician assistants earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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