salary$184,380 a year$89 an hour · median pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$106,150per year
Top pay (top 10%)$237,980per year
Jobs in the area1,830people work this job
Can a physician assistant afford San Francisco?
OK. Rent of $3,201 a month takes 20.8% of the median physician assistant salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Physician Assistant pay in similar cities
Other jobs in San Francisco
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in San Francisco, CA?
The median pay for a physician assistant in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area is $184,380 a year ($89 an hour). Most earn between $106,150 and $237,980.
Can a physician assistant afford to live in San Francisco?
Typical rent of $3,201 a month takes 20.8% of the median physician assistant salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area.