Physician Assistant Salary in Riverside, CA: $170,984 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Riverside, CA earns a median $170,984/year (≈ $82.20/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Riverside's price level (6% above national, BEA RPP 106.4), that paycheck buys what $160,636 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.4% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $170,984 for 2026, physician assistants in Riverside, California, can anticipate earning significantly above the national average of $140,391. Salaries for this profession vary widely, ranging from $79,877 at the 10th percentile to $231,447 for the top 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, reflect a robust financial environment for PAs, particularly those engaged in surgical roles where first-assist billing can substantially enhance compensation. Riverside's job market supports approximately 1,020 physician assistants, underscoring a strong demand for healthcare services in the region, which helps drive competitive salaries.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $79,877 | $38.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $141,259 | $67.91 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $170,984 | $82.20 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $207,549 | $99.79 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $231,447 | $111.28 |
Median Salary Position
21.79% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Riverside
In Riverside, CA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $151,570 (2026 est.). At $170,984, the local median is 21.79% above the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Riverside: You'd be above the median
How Riverside Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Riverside median: $170,984/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Riverside Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $170,303 | +0.40% more |
| National Average | $140,391 | +21.79% more |
Physician Assistants in Riverside, CA earn a median of $170,984 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.79% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 0.40% above the California state average of $170,303.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Riverside has a cost of living 6.44% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Riverside, CA has a cost-of-living index of 106.442 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $170,984 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $160,636 — a 6.05% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$129,750
2025 BLS Actual
$165,490
2026 Current Est.
$170,984
2019–2027 Growth
+36.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Riverside (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $129,750 | Actual |
| 2020 | $131,200 | Actual |
| 2021 | $127,240 | Actual |
| 2022 | $131,350 | Actual |
| 2023 | $141,700 | Actual |
| 2024 | $166,730 | Actual |
| 2025 | $165,490 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $170,984 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $176,661 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Riverside metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 27.5% from $129,750 (2019) to $165,490 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $176,661 by 2027 — a total increase of $46,911 (36.15%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Riverside 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) | $79,877 – $141,259 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $141,259 – $170,984 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $170,984 – $207,549 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $207,549 – $231,447 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Riverside
The cost of living in Riverside, with an index of 106.442, indicates that while salaries are favorable, they must also account for local expenses that exceed the national average. Among various employment settings, surgical specialty practices tend to offer the highest wages, especially in fields like orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, where first-assist roles can yield greater earnings. The difference in salaries can be attributed to factors such as practice specialization, volume of first-assist cases, the structure of call coverage, and available RVU productivity bonuses. For those looking to maximize their physician assistant pay in Riverside, pursuing certifications in high-demand specialties, choosing hospital employment over private practice, and actively seeking opportunities within high-volume surgical settings can be effective strategies to enhance their earning potential.
More salary data for Riverside, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $165,490 for physician assistantsin the Riverside 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