Physician Assistant salary in California
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A physician assistant in California earns a median of $165,650 a year ($79.64/hour equivalent), 21.9% above the national median of $135,880. California ranks #2 of 51 states. About 13,600 people do this job in California.
Take-home pay in California
At the California median, a single filer keeps about $111,174 a year after federal, FICA and California taxes — $4,276 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the California paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $6,371.15
- Federal income tax
- −$1,095.77
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$395.01
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$92.38
- California income tax
- −$429.25
- CA SDI
- −$82.82
- Take-home pay
- $4,275.92
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $165,650
- Federal
- $28,490
- FICA
- $12,672
- State + local
- $13,314
- Net
- $111,174
- Marginal federal rate
- 24.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 9.3%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How California compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | New Jersey | $165,690 |
| #2 | California | $165,650 |
| #3 | Washington | $164,360 |
| #4 | Hawaii | $164,050 |
| #5 | New York | $160,880 |
| #49 | Georgia | $115,390 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $105,920 |
| #51 | Alabama | $104,960 |
See the national physician assistant salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in California?
The median salary is $165,650 a year and the average is $169,110 (BLS May 2025).
Is California a good state for physician assistants?
California ranks #2 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 22% above the national median of $135,880.
What is $165,650 after taxes in California?
About $111,174 a year ($4,276 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.