Physician Assistants Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
The median pay for a physician assistants in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $215,600/year ($103.65/hour), per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $96K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $195,254 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,483/month, or 28.1% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $216K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
About physician assistants
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level physician assistants (10th percentile) start around $96K. Mid-career wages sit at $216K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do physician assistants make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $215,600 a year - that works out to about $103.65 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $216K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,998/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 29% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physician assistants salary is worth about $195,254 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.