Physician Assistant Salary in Merced, CA: $169,527 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Merced, CA earns a median $169,527/year (≈ $81.50/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Merced's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 98.3), that paycheck buys what $172,503 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.4% below the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected median annual salary for physician assistants in Merced, California, is estimated at $169,527, which is notably higher than the national median of $140,391, reflecting a local market premium of approximately 20.75%. Salaries in Merced range from $88,928 at the 10th percentile to $205,751 at the 90th percentile. This compensation profile is influenced heavily by the prevalence of the first-assist billing model in surgical specialties, allowing physician assistants, particularly in fields like orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, to capture higher earnings through surgical case involvement. This data stems from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys, highlighting Merced’s competitive climate for healthcare professionals.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $88,928 | $42.75 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $124,315 | $59.77 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $169,527 | $81.50 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $179,653 | $86.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $205,751 | $98.92 |
Median Salary Position
20.75% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Merced
In Merced, CA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $116,823 (2026 est.). At $169,527, the local median is 20.75% above the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Merced: You'd be above the median
How Merced Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Merced median: $169,527/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Merced Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $170,208 | -0.40% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | +20.75% more |
Physician Assistants in Merced, CA earn a median of $169,527 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.75% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 0.40% below the California state average of $170,208.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Merced has a cost of living 1.72% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Merced, CA has a cost-of-living index of 98.275 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $169,527 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $172,503 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.76% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$125,850
2025 BLS Actual
$164,080
2026 Current Est.
$169,527
2019–2027 Growth
+39.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Merced (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $125,850 | Actual |
| 2020 | $145,960 | Actual |
| 2021 | $152,130 | Actual |
| 2022 | $132,630 | Actual |
| 2023 | $130,530 | Actual |
| 2024 | $146,530 | Actual |
| 2025 | $164,080 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $169,527 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $175,156 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Merced metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 30.4% from $125,850 (2019) to $164,080 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $175,156 by 2027 — a total increase of $49,306 (39.18%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Merced metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.32% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $88,928 – $124,315 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $124,315 – $169,527 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $169,527 – $179,653 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $179,653 – $205,751 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Merced
With around 50 physician assistants currently employed in the area, Merced's job market is stable, but the cost of living index stands at 98.275, suggesting a slightly below-average living expense compared to national figures. This factor enhances the purchasing power of those in the profession, making the salary attractive relative to local costs. Notably, surgical specialty practices and hospital systems tend to offer the highest wages, with compensation trajectories often driven by factors such as case volume, surgical first-assist roles, and productivity-based bonuses. Physician assistants aiming for elevated pay in Merced should seek opportunities in high-demand specialties and negotiate compensation tied to RVU productivity models, ensuring they capitalize on both their skill set and the evolving market dynamics within the healthcare ecosystem.
More salary data for Merced, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physician assistants make in Merced, CA in 2026?
Is Merced, CA a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Can physician assistants make $100K in Merced?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physician assistant salary in Merced?
How much does a physician assistant make per hour in Merced?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in California
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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $164,080 for physician assistantsin the Merced metropolitan area. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071).
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