Physician Assistants pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $126,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $192,770 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in San Luis Obispo earn between $135,430 and $188,030.
- $127K10th
- $135K25th
- $163KMedian
- $188K75th
- $193K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $159,630 | $13,302 | $76.75 |
| Median | $162,790 | $13,566 | $78.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $135,430 | $11,286 | $65.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $188,030 | $15,669 | $90.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Physician assistants in San Luis Obispo earn 6% less than the California average ($169,110) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($141,280). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $159,630 | $162,790 | $126,750 | $192,770 | 100 |
| 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 Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $159,630, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $109,620 a year, or $9,135 a month and $4,216 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% 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 Luis Obispo a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $159,630 buys what about $146,994 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 16th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($207,660).
- 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
- San Luis Obispo$159,630
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 Luis Obispo: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$76.75 an hour on average, and $78.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $126,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $135,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $109,620 a year ($9,135 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $159,630. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physician assistants earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
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