Physician Assistants pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $106,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $237,980 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in San Francisco earn between $156,990 and $219,210.
- $106K10th
- $157K25th
- $184KMedian
- $219K75th
- $238K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $182,610 | $15,218 | $87.79 |
| Median | $184,380 | $15,365 | $88.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $156,990 | $13,082 | $75.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $219,210 | $18,268 | $105.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Physician assistants in San Francisco earn 8% more than the California average ($169,110) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($141,280). At the median the gap is +36% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $182,610 | $184,380 | $106,150 | $237,980 | 1,830 |
| 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 Francisco
On the average salary of $182,610, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $123,189 a year, or $10,266 a month and $4,738 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% 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 Francisco a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $182,610 buys what about $157,949 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 3rd 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 San Francisco: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in San Francisco?
$87.79 an hour on average, and $88.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $106,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $156,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $123,189 a year ($10,266 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $182,610. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physician assistants earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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