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Physician Assistants Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 13,600 Physician Assistants professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
13,600
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
13.6
workers
Location Quotient
4.28
vs national avg
Average Salary
$169K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 4.28 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Physician Assistants professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
13,600
National: 162,150
8.4% of national
Jobs per 1,000
13.6
National: 3.18
+327.7%
Average Salary
$169K
National: $137K
+23.1%

Top States by Physician Assistants Employment

#1
19,140
19,140
employed
#2
13,600
13,600
employed
#3
10,110
10,110
employed
#4
9,310
9,310
employed
#5
9,020
9,020
employed
#6
7,490
7,490
employed
#7
6,310
6,310
employed
#8
5,610
5,610
employed
#9
4,900
4,900
employed
#10
4,790
4,790
employed

What Does a Physician Assistants Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Physician Assistants in California is $169,110. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Physician Assistants jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 13,600 Physician Assistants professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Physician Assistants in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Physician Assistants jobs (LQ: 4.28). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Physician Assistants in California?

The average (mean) salary for Physician Assistants in California is $169110/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Physician Assistants professionals?

The top state for Physician Assistants employment is New York with 19,140 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

Top Cities in California

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Top Colleges in California

Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at California's leading institutions.

Physician Assistants Employment in Other States

Compare Physician Assistants labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Physician Assistants & California Resources

Drill deeper into Physician Assistants pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Physician Assistants (SOC 291071) in California.

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