PA Salary

Menifee vs San Francisco: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between Menifee, CA and San Francisco, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Menifee, CA
$169,085
$81.29/hr
San Francisco, CA
$190,501
$91.59/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricMenifee, CASan Francisco, CA
Median Salary$169,085$190,501
Hourly Rate$81.29$91.59
Entry Level (P10)$124,052$109,674
25th Percentile$149,555$162,202
75th Percentile$206,156$226,488
Top Earner (P90)$240,370$245,881
Total Employed201,830
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Menifee ($169,085) and San Francisco ($190,501) physician assistant salaries.MenifeeSan FranciscoMedian Salary$169,085$190,501Entry Level (P10)$124,052$109,674Top Earner (P90)$240,370$245,881US Median $140,391

Verdict

San Francisco, CA offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Menifee.

The salary gap between Menifee and San Francisco is $21,416 (12.67%). San Francisco's median is +35.69% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Menifee spans $116,318,San Francisco spans $136,207. San Francisco has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced physician assistants.

Menifee
P10 (Entry)$124,052
P25$149,555
Median$169,085
P75$206,156
P90 (Top)$240,370
San Francisco
P10 (Entry)$109,674
P25$162,202
Median$190,501
P75$226,488
P90 (Top)$245,881

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, San Francisco ($164,775 effective) pays 10.22% more than Menifee ($149,500 effective).

Menifee
Nominal: $169,085
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $149,500
San Francisco
Nominal: $190,501
CoL Index: 115.613
Adjusted: $164,775

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Menifee if…

  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose San Francisco if…

  • Higher median salary ($190,501/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($245,881)
  • Larger job market (1,830 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $164,775)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in Menifee grew -6.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 45.6% growth in San Francisco over the same period.

Menifee, CA

+-6.0%

$174,105 (2024) → $163,652 (2025)

San Francisco, CA

+45.6%

$126,660 (2019) → $184,380 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: Menifee or San Francisco?

San Francisco has a higher median physician assistant salary at $190,501/year, compared to Menifee at $169,085/year — a difference of $21,416 (12.67%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Menifee and San Francisco?

Menifee physician assistants earn $81.29/hr while San Francisco hygienists earn $91.59/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Menifee to San Francisco as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Menifee and San Francisco. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Menifee = $149,500, San Francisco = $164,775), job availability (20 vs 1,830 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in Menifee vs San Francisco?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $124,052 in Menifee and $109,674 in San Francisco. The Menifee 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