Physician Assistants Salary in Merced, CA
The median pay for a physician assistants in Merced, CA is $146,530/year ($70.45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $109K at the entry level to $184K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.28), that's roughly $149,094 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,503/month, or 17.4% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $147K get you in Merced?
About physician assistants
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Merced, CA
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $109K. Mid-career wages sit at $147K.Top earners bring in $184K or more - a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Physician Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $163K | +22% | 440 |
| California | $161K | +21% | 13,570 |
| Washington | $157K | +18% | 3,310 |
| New York | $153K | +15% | 19,390 |
| Oregon | $149K | +12% | 1,930 |
| Rhode Island | $142K | +6% | 600 |
| New Jersey | $140K | +5% | 2,370 |
| New Mexico | $140K | +5% | 640 |
| Minnesota | $139K | +5% | 3,790 |
| Missouri | $139K | +4% | 1,650 |
| Delaware | $139K | +4% | 690 |
| Vermont | $139K | +4% | 410 |
| Connecticut | $138K | +4% | 3,700 |
| Massachusetts | $138K | +4% | 4,310 |
| New Hampshire | $137K | +3% | 1,060 |
Track physician assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Merced numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
How much do physician assistants make in Merced, CA?
The median is $146,530 a year - that works out to about $70.45 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $109,290, and experienced physician assistants can clear $184,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $147K enough to live in Merced?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,428/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,503/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 17.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physician assistants salary go in Merced?
Merced has a Regional Price Parity of 98.28 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physician assistants salary is worth about $149,094 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physician assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.