Physician Assistant Hourly Pay in Whittier, CA: $83.05 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physician assistant working in Whittier, CA runs $83.05 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $172,748 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Weighted against Whittier's regional price level (BEA RPP 113.1, 13% above national), each hour of work buys what $73.43 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $103,645 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Whittier, CA's physician assistant hourly pay is estimated to be $83.05, considerably higher than the national average of $67.50. This elevated hourly rate reflects the area's demand for skilled healthcare providers and the complexity of the work performed in various settings such as operating rooms, emergency departments, and ambulatory clinics. For part-time employees working three days a week, this translates to a substantial income, while per-diem opportunities allow practitioners to capitalize on their skills without the commitment of full-time roles. Those entering the field can expect to earn around $61.03 per hour, with experienced PAs pushing into the higher echelons of $114.15 as they specialize further, particularly in high-demand areas like surgery or emergency medicine. This compensation structure makes physician assistant roles in Whittier both attractive and competitive within the broader California market.
About the Whittier Market
Salary estimated from California average ($155,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Physician Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61.03 | $488.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $71.54 | $572.31 |
| Median (P50) | $83.05 | $664.39 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99.55 | $796.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $114.15 | $913.18 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Whittier
Based on $83.05/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $83.05/hr, a physician assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Whittier, CA can expect to earn approximately $172,741 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $99,658. With a cost-of-living index of 113.10 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Whittier.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Whittier
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $3,321.94 | $14,395 | $172,741 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,993.17 | $8,637 | $103,645 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,328.78 | $5,758 | $69,096 |
Compare PA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant (Whittier) | $83.05 |
| Nurse Practitioner (National Avg) | $63.20 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
| Family Medicine Physician (National Avg) | $116.45 |
| Physical Therapist (National Avg) | $48.18 |
Physician Assistants in Whittier, CA earn a median of $172,748 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.05% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 1.50% above the California state average of $170,195.
Physician Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $83.05/hr = $103,645/year (purchasing power: $91,640).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $172,741/year (purchasing power: $152,733).
CoL index: 113.1 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$66.41/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$80.38/hr
2026 Current Est.
$83.05/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Whittier (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $66.41/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $68.26/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $71.89/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $74.54/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $76.91/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $85.52/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $80.38/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83.05/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $85.81/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physician assistants in Whittier grew 21.0% from $66.41/hr (2019) to $80.38/hr (2025). At a 3.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $85.81/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem physician assistants can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Whittier metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.32% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Physician Assistant in Whittier
When analyzing the earning potential for a part-time physician assistant in Whittier who works 24 hours a week, the take-home pay can be notably significant, varying greatly depending on specialty and employment type. For instance, if a PA chooses to work on a per-diem basis, they might achieve earnings between $75 and $130 per hour based on their expertise, which could yield an annual take-home similar to full-time practitioners. In orthopedics and surgical roles, locum tenens PAs can charge daily rates ranging from $1,200 to $1,800, although this does come with a lack of traditional benefits that accompany W-2 employment in hospital systems and specialty clinics. Different employer types in Whittier impact pay rates as well; for example, those in emergency medicine or urgent care tend to command higher hourly rates compared to primary care settings. As PAs assess job offers, they should weigh the financial trade-offs between lower hourly rates with benefits and higher rates without them. This can facilitate effective negotiation strategies, ensuring that they secure favorable terms while navigating the unique dynamics of the healthcare job market in CA.
More salary data for Whittier, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C
Career Analyst
Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for physician assistants in Whittier. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Whittier is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov