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Physician Assistants salary in Oakland, CA

Physician Assistants in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area earn a median of $184,380 a year, an average of $182,610. About 1,830 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Physician Assistants pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$184,380
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$182,610
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$106,150
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$237,980
Top of the range
People employed
1,830
In Oakland metro area
Rent share of median wage
12.5%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Oakland

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,917
per month, in Oakland, CA
Income needed for median rent
$76,700
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median physician assistants wage
$184,380
140.4% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
12.5%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$97,369
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Oakland area. Read the Oakland, CA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Physician Assistants pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Miami, FL
-28.2%
Median $132,360
Mean $137,010
Employed 2,190
Median $145,030
Mean $147,010
Employed 2,340
Median $126,430
Mean $129,080
Employed 780
Median $161,890
Mean $163,340
Employed 3,890
Tulsa, OK
-27.1%
Median $134,380
Mean $135,490
Employed 350
Median $198,070
Mean $177,840
Employed 350
Raleigh, NC
-32.6%
Median $124,300
Mean $127,620
Employed 1,220
Wichita, KS
-34.0%
Median $121,640
Mean $121,900
Employed 240

See physician assistants pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $184,380 / year
$184,380
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax California (CA)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
—
Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Physician Assistants salary in Oakland, CA: FAQ

How much do physician assistants make in Oakland, CA?

The median salary for physician assistants in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $184,380 a year (about $89 an hour for full-time work). The average is $182,610, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $184,380 a good salary for physician assistants in Oakland, CA?

Yes. It is above the $76,700 needed to keep the median rent of $1,917 a month at 30% of gross income, and the median rent takes 12.5% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid physician assistants earn in Oakland, CA?

The top 10% earn more than $237,980 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $106,150.

How many physician assistants work in Oakland, CA?

About 1,830 people work in this occupation in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.