Physician Assistant salary in Salinas, CA
Physician Assistants in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $170,180 a year ($81.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $146,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $453,100 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 3% higher than the California statewide median of $165,650. There are 0.68 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $202,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $146,500 | $70.43 |
| 25th percentile | $156,950 | $75.46 |
| Median | $170,180 | $81.82 |
| 75th percentile | $204,990 | $98.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $453,100 | $217.84 |
| Average (mean) | $202,320 | $97.27 |
Half of physician assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,181.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,090.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,545.38 |
| Weekly | $3,272.69 |
| Hourly | $81.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physician Assistant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $223,640 | 1,030 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $198,070 | 350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $184,380 | 1,830 |
| Yuba City, CA | $183,460 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | $179,520 | 150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $172,750 | 140 |
| Napa, CA | $172,170 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $166,510 | 100 |
| Modesto, CA | $165,730 | 210 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $165,490 | 1,020 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $165,160 | 1,370 |
| Chico, CA | $164,780 | 130 |
| Merced, CA | $164,080 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $162,790 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $162,110 | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,890 | 3,890 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $161,470 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $161,470 | 1,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $159,030 | 120 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $158,360 | 210 |
| El Centro, CA | $156,730 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $155,440 | 360 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $154,760 | 210 |
| Redding, CA | $150,010 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 |
| California | $165,650 |
| Washington | $164,360 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 |
| New York | $160,880 |
| Oregon | $155,780 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 |
| Alaska | $150,700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 |
See Physician Assistant pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $134,910 | $64.86 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $410,370 | $197.29 |
| Pharmacist | $166,470 | $80.03 |
| Physicians, All Other | $384,990 | $185.09 |
| Dental Hygienist | $122,370 | $58.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $122,770 | $59.02 |
| Physical Therapist | $127,120 | $61.12 |
| Dentists, General | $185,040 | $88.96 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $166,090 | $79.85 |
| Veterinarian | $163,080 | $78.41 |
| Occupational Therapist | $123,180 | $59.22 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $101,640 | $48.86 |
| Optometrist | $133,350 | $64.11 |
| Psychiatrist | $178,630 | $85.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Salinas, CA?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Salinas, CA metro area is $170,180 a year, or $81.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $146,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $453,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $453,100 a year. The top 25% earn $204,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $146,500 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $156,950 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Salinas, CA?
About 130 physician assistants are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.