PA Salary

Antioch vs Los Angeles: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between Antioch, CA and Los Angeles, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Antioch, CA
$168,164
$80.85/hr
Los Angeles, CA
$167,265
$80.41/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAntioch, CALos Angeles, CA
Median Salary$168,164$167,265
Hourly Rate$80.85$80.41
Entry Level (P10)$121,794$102,876
25th Percentile$147,669$139,017
75th Percentile$207,788$211,775
Top Earner (P90)$243,039$227,903
Total Employed173,890
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Antioch ($168,164) and Los Angeles ($167,265) physician assistant salaries.AntiochLos AngelesMedian Salary$168,164$167,265Entry Level (P10)$121,794$102,876Top Earner (P90)$243,039$227,903US Median $140,391

Verdict

Antioch, CA offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Los Angeles.

The salary gap between Antioch and Los Angeles is $899 (0.54%). Antioch's median is +19.78% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Antioch spans $121,245,Los Angeles spans $125,027. Los Angeles has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced physician assistants.

Antioch
P10 (Entry)$121,794
P25$147,669
Median$168,164
P75$207,788
P90 (Top)$243,039
Los Angeles
P10 (Entry)$102,876
P25$139,017
Median$167,265
P75$211,775
P90 (Top)$227,903

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Antioch ($148,686 effective) pays 0.95% more than Los Angeles ($147,284 effective).

Antioch
Nominal: $168,164
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $148,686
Los Angeles
Nominal: $167,265
CoL Index: 113.566
Adjusted: $147,284

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Antioch if…

  • Higher median salary ($168,164/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($243,039)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $148,686)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Los Angeles if…

  • Larger job market (3,890 employed)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in Antioch grew -6.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 30.9% growth in Los Angeles over the same period.

Antioch, CA

+-6.0%

$173,156 (2024) → $162,760 (2025)

Los Angeles, CA

+30.9%

$123,630 (2019) → $161,890 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: Antioch or Los Angeles?

Antioch has a higher median physician assistant salary at $168,164/year, compared to Los Angeles at $167,265/year — a difference of $899 (0.54%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Antioch and Los Angeles?

Antioch physician assistants earn $80.85/hr while Los Angeles hygienists earn $80.41/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Antioch to Los Angeles as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Antioch and Los Angeles. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Antioch = $148,686, Los Angeles = $147,284), job availability (17 vs 3,890 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in Antioch vs Los Angeles?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $121,794 in Antioch and $102,876 in Los Angeles. The Antioch area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JT

Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C

Career Analyst

Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Chen, PA-CData verified by Amina Patel, MSPAS, PA-C

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.32% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov