Physician Assistants pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $109,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $214,570 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in San Diego earn between $135,720 and $204,920.
- $110K10th
- $136K25th
- $165KMedian
- $205K75th
- $215K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $165,450 | $13,788 | $79.54 |
| Median | $165,160 | $13,763 | $79.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $135,720 | $11,310 | $65.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $204,920 | $17,077 | $98.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Physician assistants in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($169,110) and 17% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $165,450 | $165,160 | $109,750 | $214,570 | 1,370 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $165,450, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $113,056 a year, or $9,421 a month and $4,348 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 San Diego a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $165,450 buys what about $147,872 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 11th 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
- San Diego$165,450
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 San Diego: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in San Diego?
$79.54 an hour on average, and $79.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $109,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $135,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in San Diego?
About $113,056 a year ($9,421 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $165,450. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physician assistants earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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