Critical Care Physician Jobs in California
Critical Care Physician jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated heavily in large academic medical centers, trauma systems, and integrated health networks serving both urban and rural populations, with openings at every level from fellowship-trained new attendings through department directors and medical directors. The largest hiring volumes are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where major systems like Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCSF Health, and Kaiser Permanente maintain sustained demand for intensivists. Pulmonary critical care, surgical critical care, and neurocritical care are the most consistently in-demand subspecialties across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Advance Clinical Excellence as a Critical Care Physician Assistant in Visalia, CA
Our mission in Visalia is to provide “better” in every sense—better healthcare, better teamwork, and a lasting impact on the community we proudly serve. Ready to grow your career in a place that values community and collaboration? Let’s talk.
Local Team Collaboration:
- We are a closely knit, established team of 10 physicians and 7 Advanced Practice Providers.
- Kaweah Health is a 600-bed level III trauma center and a stroke center with about 310 inpatient beds. We provide care in a 21 bed MICU, 20 bed CVICU, and 42 bed ICCU.
- APP will cover the ICCU with onsite intensivist support from 7pm-7am. There are two Intensivists in the MICU and CVICU overnight.
- The ICCU is an extension of the MICU. In the ICCU we have insulin drips, low-dose pressors, BiPAP, trach, and vented patients. APP has support via the intensivist, but will work independently, performing ICU procedures (central lines, arterial lines, and intubations).
Qualifications
- Board-certified Physician Assistant.
- Preferably prior Critical Care experience as a PA-C.
- A commitment to excellence in clinical service, with strong problem-solving abilities essential for the ICU setting. In this role you will care for a variety of complex critically ill patients and perform bedside ICU procedures.
Scheduling:
- 12-14 night shifts per month. We collaborate to manage the schedule as equitably as possible, ensuring team members achieve an outstanding work/family life balance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Admit patients to the Stepdown / Intermediate Critical Care Unit (ICCU) and consult for critical care with on-site intensivist support.
- Cross-cover existing Sound Stepdown/ ICCU patients by receiving and giving sign-out to the oncoming day team.
- Perform common bedside critical care procedures including most commonly central lines, arterial lines, intubations in the ICUs and ICCUs as needed.
- Initiate and continue goals of care discussions and family updates as appropriate.
- Utilize Cerner, the hospital's electronic health informatics platform, to ensure efficient and accurate patient care documentation.
Living and Working in Visalia:
- Our location is the gateway to the Sierra Mountain Range. We are about an hour from Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Sierra National Forest. Year-round Mediterranean climate with access to excellent hiking and outdoor activities. Overall low cost of living and exceptional schools make for an excellent place to call home.
- Several team members commute from Fresno/Clovis, a larger community, about 50 minutes north of Visalia.
- Central Location: Fresno/Clovis/Visalia is roughly a 3-hour drive to Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Luis Obispo.
- Median home price in Fresno is $375k, $497k in Clovis, & $369k in Visalia.
Rewards and Compensation:
- Compensation is based upon experience. Salary for candidates with previous ICU NP experience is between $224,640-$262,080 depending on shift commitment (12-14 nights per month).
- Comprehensive benefits package, including CME allowance, 401k match, liability insurance, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Commencement bonus and relocation.
Ben Housley, Clinical Recruiter | bhousley@soundphysicians.com | (615) 483-1809
Advance Clinical Excellence as a Critical Care Physician Assistant in Visalia, CA
Our mission in Visalia is to provide “better” in every sense—better healthcare, better teamwork, and a lasting impact on the community we proudly serve. Ready to grow your career in a place that values community and collaboration? Let’s talk.
Local Team Collaboration:
- We are a closely knit, established team of 10 physicians and 7 Advanced Practice Providers.
- Kaweah Health is a 600-bed level III trauma center and a stroke center with about 310 inpatient beds. We provide care in a 21 bed MICU, 20 bed CVICU, and 42 bed ICCU.
- APP will cover the ICCU with onsite intensivist support from 7pm-7am. There are two Intensivists in the MICU and CVICU overnight.
- The ICCU is an extension of the MICU. In the ICCU we have insulin drips, low-dose pressors, BiPAP, trach, and vented patients. APP has support via the intensivist, but will work independently, performing ICU procedures (central lines, arterial lines, and intubations).
Qualifications
- Board-certified Physician Assistant.
- Preferably prior Critical Care experience as a PA-C.
- A commitment to excellence in clinical service, with strong problem-solving abilities essential for the ICU setting. In this role you will care for a variety of complex critically ill patients and perform bedside ICU procedures.
Scheduling:
- 12-14 night shifts per month. We collaborate to manage the schedule as equitably as possible, ensuring team members achieve an outstanding work/family life balance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Admit patients to the Stepdown / Intermediate Critical Care Unit (ICCU) and consult for critical care with on-site intensivist support.
- Cross-cover existing Sound Stepdown/ ICCU patients by receiving and giving sign-out to the oncoming day team.
- Perform common bedside critical care procedures including most commonly central lines, arterial lines, intubations in the ICUs and ICCUs as needed.
- Initiate and continue goals of care discussions and family updates as appropriate.
- Utilize Cerner, the hospital's electronic health informatics platform, to ensure efficient and accurate patient care documentation.
Living and Working in Visalia:
- Our location is the gateway to the Sierra Mountain Range. We are about an hour from Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Sierra National Forest. Year-round Mediterranean climate with access to excellent hiking and outdoor activities. Overall low cost of living and exceptional schools make for an excellent place to call home.
- Several team members commute from Fresno/Clovis, a larger community, about 50 minutes north of Visalia.
- Central Location: Fresno/Clovis/Visalia is roughly a 3-hour drive to Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Luis Obispo.
- Median home price in Fresno is $375k, $497k in Clovis, & $369k in Visalia.
Rewards and Compensation:
- Compensation is based upon experience. Salary for candidates with previous ICU NP experience is between $224,640-$262,080 depending on shift commitment (12-14 nights per month).
- Comprehensive benefits package, including CME allowance, 401k match, liability insurance, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Commencement bonus and relocation.
Ben Housley, Clinical Recruiter | bhousley@soundphysicians.com | (615) 483-1809
See All 9 Critical Care Physician Jobs in California
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Find Critical Care Physician JobsCritical Care Physician Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Critical Care Physician Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Sound Physicians4
- Prime Healthcare Foundation-Southern Regional2
- CommonSpirit Health1
- Riverside Community Hospital1
- San Joaquin County1
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services8
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in critical care physician jobs across California.
- Active California Medical License issued by the Medical Board of California
- Board certification or active board eligibility in Critical Care Medicine
- Completion of an accredited fellowship in Critical Care Medicine or related subspecialty
- Current ACLS, BLS, and ATLS certifications required at time of hire
- Experience with mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, and critical care protocols
- Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary ICU team environment
Critical Care Physician Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a critical care physician in California?
To become a critical care physician in California, you must complete medical school, a residency in internal medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, or pediatrics, and then a fellowship in critical care medicine. After training, you must obtain a California Medical License through the Medical Board of California, which requires passing USMLE Steps and submitting a complete application with verification of training. Board certification in Critical Care Medicine through ABIM, ABS, or an equivalent certifying body is required by nearly all California employers.
How much do critical care physicians make in California?
Critical care physicians in California earn a median of about $281,590 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $80,590 for the lowest 10% to over $431,980 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire critical care physicians in California?
Employers hiring critical care physicians in California right now include Sound Physicians, Prime Healthcare Foundation-Southern Regional, and CommonSpirit Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's dense network of Level I trauma centers, university hospitals, and large integrated systems like Kaiser Permanente means demand is distributed broadly rather than concentrated in just one corner of the state.
Which California cities have the most critical care physician jobs?
Inglewood, Oakland, and Visalia have the most critical care physician openings in California. Los Angeles drives the largest volume due to its concentration of academic medical centers and trauma systems, while San Francisco and San Diego benefit from major university health systems and Veterans Affairs medical centers that maintain full ICU programs year-round.
Are there remote critical care physician jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Critical care medicine is a hands-on, bedside specialty that requires direct patient management in ICU settings, so fully remote positions are uncommon. About 0% of critical care physician openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those tend to involve tele-ICU oversight roles where physicians monitor multiple units off-site rather than managing patients directly at the bedside.
How can I get hired as a critical care physician in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic path for physicians new to critical care practice is applying directly to large California academic medical centers that hire fellowship-trained attendings without independent attending experience, including UC Health systems and county hospitals such as those within the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. These institutions structure their ICU staffing to support new attendings with senior mentorship, structured onboarding, and supervision frameworks. Having California Medical Board licensure in process and active board eligibility in Critical Care Medicine is the credential that moves an application forward fastest.
Where can I find and apply to critical care physician jobs in California?
You can find and apply to critical care physician jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, identify the ones that fit your training, subspecialty, and preferred region, and apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 9 Critical Care Physician Jobs in California
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