Physician Assistants pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $287,420 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in San Jose earn between $167,230 and $250,240.
- $100K10th
- $167K25th
- $224KMedian
- $250K75th
- $287K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $207,660 | $17,305 | $99.84 |
| Median | $223,640 | $18,637 | $107.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $167,230 | $13,936 | $80.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $250,240 | $20,853 | $120.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Physician assistants in San Jose earn 23% more than the California average ($169,110) and 47% more than the U.S. average ($141,280). At the median the gap is +65% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $207,660 | $223,640 | $100,240 | $287,420 | 1,030 |
| California | $169,110 | $165,650 | $99,380 | $225,190 | 13,600 |
| United States | $141,280 | $135,880 | $99,380 | $190,280 | 162,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physician Assistants salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $207,660, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $139,348 a year, or $11,612 a month and $5,360 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $207,660 buys what about $188,059 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 25 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Jose$207,660
- Salinas$202,320
- San Francisco$182,610
- Vallejo$182,520
- Bakersfield$177,840
- Yuba City$174,990
- Napa$174,120
- Santa Rosa$171,940
- Modesto$168,960
- Stockton$166,570
Highest-paying cities for physician assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($207,660).
- San Jose, CA$207,660
- Salinas, CA$202,320
- San Francisco, CA$182,610
- Vallejo, CA$182,520
- Bakersfield, CA$177,840
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Physician Assistants salary in San Jose: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in San Jose?
$99.84 an hour on average, and $107.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $167,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in San Jose?
About $139,348 a year ($11,612 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $207,660. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physician assistants earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 47% more than the U.S. average for this job ($141,280).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1071; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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