Physician Assistants pay range in Santa Maria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $90,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $204,280 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in Santa Maria earn between $130,630 and $175,470.
- $90K10th
- $131K25th
- $158KMedian
- $175K75th
- $204K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $150,990 | $12,582 | $72.59 |
| Median | $158,360 | $13,197 | $76.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $130,630 | $10,886 | $62.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $175,470 | $14,622 | $84.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in Santa Maria vs. California and the U.S.
Physician assistants in Santa Maria earn 11% less than the California average ($169,110) and 7% 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 Maria | $150,990 | $158,360 | $90,310 | $204,280 | 210 |
| 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 Maria
On the average salary of $150,990, a single filer in Santa Maria takes home about $104,518 a year, or $8,710 a month and $4,020 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 Maria a good place for physician assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Maria area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.8), so the average $150,990 buys what about $138,780 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Maria ($51,690). A typical home costs $1,005,339, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other California cities
Santa Maria ranks 21st 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 Maria$150,990
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 Maria: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in Santa Maria?
$72.59 an hour on average, and $76.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $90,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $130,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in Santa Maria?
About $104,518 a year ($8,710 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $150,990. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physician assistants earn more in Santa Maria than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (42200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- 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 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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