Physician Assistant Salary in Escondido, CA: $175,853 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Escondido, CA earns a median $175,853/year (≈ $84.55/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Escondido's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $155,485 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the projected median salary for physician assistants in Escondido, California is $175,853, reflecting a significant 25.26% premium over the national median of $140,391. The salary range here spans from $126,082 at the 10th percentile to $245,714 at the 90th percentile. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS data adjusted for local living costs, which are above average in Escondido. The competitive salary landscape in this region is driven partly by the first-assist billing model that allows surgical physician assistants to enhance their earning potential, particularly in high-demand surgical specialties like orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery.
About the Escondido Market
Salary estimated from California average ($155,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $126,082 | $60.62 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $153,318 | $73.71 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $175,853 | $84.55 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $212,412 | $102.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $245,714 | $118.14 |
Median Salary Position
25.26% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Escondido
In Escondido, CA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $119,632 (2026 est.). At $175,853, the local median is 25.26% above the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Escondido: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Escondido Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Escondido median: $175,853/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Escondido Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $170,235 | +3.30% more |
| National Average | $140,391 | +25.26% more |
Physician Assistants in Escondido, CA earn a median of $175,853 per year (2026 est.), which is 25.26% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 3.30% above the California state average of $170,235.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Escondido has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Escondido, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $175,853 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $155,485 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$140,616
2025 BLS Actual
$170,202
2026 Current Est.
$175,853
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Escondido (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $140,616 | Actual |
| 2020 | $144,536 | Actual |
| 2021 | $152,227 | Actual |
| 2022 | $157,839 | Actual |
| 2023 | $162,862 | Actual |
| 2024 | $181,074 | Actual |
| 2025 | $170,202 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $175,853 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $181,691 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Escondido metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 21.0% from $140,616 (2019) to $170,202 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $181,691 by 2027 — a total increase of $41,075 (29.21%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Escondido 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $126,082 – $153,318 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $153,318 – $175,853 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $175,853 – $212,412 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $212,412 – $245,714 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Escondido
With only 31 physician assistants employed locally, the job market in Escondido is relatively small, yet it presents unique opportunities. The cost of living index sits at 113.1, indicating higher living expenses which influence the overall compensation of healthcare professionals. Notably, surgical specialty practices and hospital systems tend to offer the highest salaries, while urgent care and primary care settings usually pay less. The disparity in pay stems from several factors, including specialty area, patient case volume, call coverage obligations, and the differences between W-2 positions and 1099 contract work. To maximize compensation, aspiring PAs should consider seeking positions in high-volume surgical units and focusing on building expertise that aligns with lucrative specialties, leveraging the local demand for these critical healthcare roles.
More salary data for Escondido, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can physician assistants make $100K in Escondido?
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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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $170,202 for physician assistantsin the Escondido metropolitan area. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Escondido 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