PA Salary

Los Angeles vs Pomona: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

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

Los Angeles, CA
$167,265
$80.41/hr
Pomona, CA
$175,991
$84.61/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLos Angeles, CAPomona, CA
Median Salary$167,265$175,991
Hourly Rate$80.41$84.61
Entry Level (P10)$102,876$125,696
25th Percentile$139,017$153,606
75th Percentile$211,775$212,478
Top Earner (P90)$227,903$246,654
Total Employed3,89036
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Los Angeles ($167,265) and Pomona ($175,991) physician assistant salaries.Los AngelesPomonaMedian Salary$167,265$175,991Entry Level (P10)$102,876$125,696Top Earner (P90)$227,903$246,654US Median $140,391

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Los Angeles and Pomona is $8,726 (5.22%). Pomona's median is +25.36% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Los Angeles spans $125,027,Pomona spans $120,958. Los Angeles has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Los Angeles
P10 (Entry)$102,876
P25$139,017
Median$167,265
P75$211,775
P90 (Top)$227,903
Pomona
P10 (Entry)$125,696
P25$153,606
Median$175,991
P75$212,478
P90 (Top)$246,654

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Pomona ($155,607 effective) pays 5.65% more than Los Angeles ($147,284 effective).

Los Angeles
Nominal: $167,265
CoL Index: 113.566
Adjusted: $147,284
Pomona
Nominal: $175,991
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $155,607

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Los Angeles if…

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

Choose Pomona if…

  • Higher median salary ($175,991/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($246,654)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $155,607)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in Los Angeles grew 30.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -6.0% growth in Pomona over the same period.

Los Angeles, CA

+30.9%

$123,630 (2019) → $161,890 (2025)

Pomona, CA

+-6.0%

$181,215 (2024) → $170,336 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Pomona has a higher median physician assistant salary at $175,991/year, compared to Los Angeles at $167,265/year — a difference of $8,726 (5.22%).

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

Los Angeles physician assistants earn $80.41/hr while Pomona hygienists earn $84.61/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Los Angeles and Pomona. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Los Angeles = $147,284, Pomona = $155,607), job availability (3,890 vs 36 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $102,876 in Los Angeles and $125,696 in Pomona. The Pomona 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