How does Physician Assistants salary grow from entry-level to senior in California? State salary progression based on 2024 BLS data.
149% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2024 • California salary data • Updated 2026-04-06
The salary range for Physician Assistants in California spans from $84,450 at entry-level to $209,890 at senior level — a difference of $125,440 per year.
Senior Physician Assistantss in California earn $125,440 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Physician Assistants salary increases with experience in California, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $84,450 | $7,038 | $40.60 |
| Early Career | P25 | $127,570 | $10,631 | $61.33 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $157,490 | $13,124 | $75.72 |
| Experienced | P75 | $176,810 | $14,734 | $85.00 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $209,890 | $17,491 | $100.91 |
Physician Assistants in California shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $84,450, while senior-level professionals earn $209,890 — a 149% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($157,490) and experienced level ($176,810), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.
Where does California rank for Physician Assistants senior-level salaries? Compare California's P90 pay to other top-paying states.
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Entry-level Physician Assistantss (10th percentile) earn approximately $84,450 per year, or $7,037 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $127,570. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Physician Assistantss (90th percentile) earn approximately $209,890 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $176,810. This represents a career premium of 149% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Physician Assistantss is 149%. Entry-level professionals start at $84,450, while senior-level can earn up to $209,890 — a difference of $125,440 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Physician Assistantss is California, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $209,890 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.
Salary percentile data for California from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within California.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS