Physician Assistant Salary in San Diego, CA: $170,643 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in San Diego, CA earns a median $170,643/year (≈ $82.05/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in San Diego's price level (12% above national, BEA RPP 111.9), that paycheck buys what $152,514 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the physician assistant salary in San Diego is projected to reach a median of $170,643, reflecting a significant premium over the national average of $140,391. This competitive compensation is bolstered by the first-assist billing model commonly utilized in surgical practices, which allows PAs to command higher earnings, particularly in specialties such as orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery. The salary range for physician assistants in San Diego spans from $113,394 at the 10th percentile to an impressive $221,694 at the 90th percentile, indicating a robust market for varying experience levels and specialties. These insights are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, providing a reliable overview of the compensation landscape for this profession in the region.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $113,394 | $54.51 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $140,226 | $67.42 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $170,643 | $82.05 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $211,723 | $101.79 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $221,694 | $106.58 |
Median Salary Position
21.55% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Diego
In San Diego, CA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $108,300 (2026 est.). At $170,643, the local median is 21.55% above the national median of $140,391.
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At 40 hours/week in San Diego: You'd be above the median
How San Diego Physician Assistant Pay Compares
San Diego median: $170,643/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | San Diego Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $170,303 | +0.20% more |
| National Average | $140,391 | +21.55% more |
Physician Assistants in San Diego, CA earn a median of $170,643 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.55% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 0.20% above the California state average of $170,303.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
San Diego has a cost of living 11.89% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
San Diego, CA has a cost-of-living index of 111.887 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $170,643 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $152,514 — a 10.62% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$118,750
2025 BLS Actual
$165,160
2026 Current Est.
$170,643
2019–2027 Growth
+48.5%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in San Diego (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $118,750 | Actual |
| 2020 | $112,930 | Actual |
| 2021 | $128,690 | Actual |
| 2022 | $130,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $138,500 | Actual |
| 2024 | $153,530 | Actual |
| 2025 | $165,160 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $170,643 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $176,309 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Diego metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 39.1% from $118,750 (2019) to $165,160 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $176,309 by 2027 — a total increase of $57,559 (48.47%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Diego 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) | $113,394 – $140,226 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $140,226 – $170,643 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $170,643 – $211,723 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $211,723 – $221,694 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in San Diego
As of 2026, there are approximately 1,370 physician assistants employed in San Diego, CA, indicating a strong demand within the local healthcare market. However, the cost of living in the area, with an index of 111.887, poses a consideration for take-home pay and purchasing power. The highest salaries for physician assistants are generally found in hospital systems and surgical specialty practices, with emergency departments and urgent care chains also offering competitive pay. Variations in compensation can be attributed to factors such as specialty—where surgical PAs outpace their primary care counterparts—first-assist case volume, and the structure of employment, whether W-2 or 1099. To maximize earnings, aspiring PAs should focus on obtaining experience in high-demand specialties while considering opportunities for RVU productivity bonuses and performance incentives commonly available in hospital settings. The evolving landscape requires PAs to remain adaptable and informed as they seek optimal compensation strategies within the San Diego market.
More salary data for San Diego, 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 $165,160 for physician assistantsin the San Diego 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