Physician Assistant Salary in Riverside, CA
Physician Assistants in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $165,490 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $111,066 take-home, or $9,256 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physician assistant salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$28,452
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,260
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,400
- California income tax$11,161
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,151
- Take-home pay$111,066
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Physician Assistant pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,310 | $37.17 | $59,240 | $4,937 |
| 25th percentile | $136,720 | $65.73 | $94,451 | $7,871 |
| Median (50th) | $165,490 | $79.56 | $111,066 | $9,256 |
| 75th percentile | $200,880 | $96.58 | $132,511 | $11,043 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $224,010 | $107.70 | $146,604 | $12,217 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $165,490 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physician assistant's $111,066 take-home pay has the buying power of $104,344 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Physician Assistant jobs are less concentrated in Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.57), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for physician assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #17 of 71 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $223,640 | $146,400 | $132,581 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $140,160 | $107,065 | $113,038 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,290 | $125,609 | $113,026 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City, OK | $138,920 | $100,512 | $111,176 |
| 5 | Dayton, OH | $138,400 | $102,839 | $110,944 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $152,710 | $115,643 | $109,698 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $135,860 | $101,173 | $107,719 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $137,550 | $102,281 | $107,135 |
| 17 | Riverside, CA | $165,490 | $111,066 | $104,344 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 71 metros →
Physician Assistant salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $223,640
- San Francisco, CA — $184,380
- Sacramento, CA — $161,470
- San Diego, CA — $165,160
- Los Angeles, CA — $161,890
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Riverside, CA?
The median physician assistant salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $165,490 a year, or about $79.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $136,720 and $200,880.
What is a physician assistant’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $165,490 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $111,066 a year ($9,256 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,312 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $135,880. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $104,344 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #17 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physician assistant afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median physician assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $105,860