Physician Assistants pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $126,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $208,760 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in Santa Cruz earn between $137,130 and $167,330.
- $127K10th
- $137K25th
- $159KMedian
- $167K75th
- $209K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $159,550 | $13,296 | $76.71 |
| Median | $159,030 | $13,252 | $76.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $137,130 | $11,428 | $65.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $167,330 | $13,944 | $80.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Physician assistants in Santa Cruz 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 +17% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $159,550 | $159,030 | $126,690 | $208,760 | 120 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $159,550, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $109,572 a year, or $9,131 a month and $4,214 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 Santa Cruz a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $159,550 buys what about $145,183 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 18th 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
- Santa Cruz$159,550
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 Santa Cruz: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$76.71 an hour on average, and $76.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $126,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $137,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $109,572 a year ($9,131 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $159,550. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physician assistants earn more in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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