Orthopedic Physician Assistant Jobs in California
Orthopedic Physician Assistant jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated across large health systems, orthopedic surgery centers, and sports medicine practices, with openings at every level from new graduate through senior clinical roles. The heaviest hiring activity is in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where established employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, and UCSF Health maintain ongoing orthopedic programs. The most in-demand specialties in California are joint reconstruction, sports medicine, and spine surgery. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Estimated Work Distribution
- 50% Clinic
- 50% Operating Room (OR assistance)
Call & Weekend Coverage
- ER Call: Not required for APCs
- Weekend Coverage: Optional paid hourly opportunities for inpatient support, compensated above base salary
Clinical Volume & Scope
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Clinic Volume:
- Full day: ~18–20 patients
- Half day: ~10–12 patients
- Patient Population: Broad age range from pediatrics to geriatrics
- Specialty Scope: General Orthopedics including sports medicine, joint care, hand surgery, and trauma exposure related to physician call responsibilities
- Technology: Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR); robotic‑assisted surgery planned for future implementation
- Licensed Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner (PA or NP)
- Minimum one year of clinical experience
- Ideal backgrounds include Emergency Medicine, inpatient medicine, or surgical care
- Comfortable with inpatient rounding, OR assistance, and clinic‑based care
- Generous compensation with bonus potential (up to 10%)
- Excellent benefits, including zero-cost medical insurance
- Paid medical benefits for employees and dependents
- Award-winning, 100% 401(k) match
- Relocation assistance up to $20,000
- CME allowance ($1,500 + 5 CME days)
- Robust retirement program
- Advanced practice technology, including EPIC
- A positive work-life balance and Northern California's natural beauty and lifestyle
See All 42 Orthopedic Physician Assistant Jobs in California
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Find JobsOrthopedic Physician Assistant Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Orthopedic Physician Assistant Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Sutter Health27

- 77 Consultants47
- Tenet Healthcare2

- MDpanel1

- Concentra1

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in orthopedic physician assistant jobs across California.
- Active California Physician Assistant license issued by the Physician Assistant Board of California
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants NCCPA certification required or eligible
- Graduate degree from an accredited physician assistant program recognized for California licensure
- Minimum one to two years of orthopedic or surgical PA clinical experience preferred
- Proficiency in first assist surgical procedures, casting, and musculoskeletal injections
- Current BLS and ACLS certification required by most California hospital systems and surgery centers
Orthopedic Physician Assistant Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a orthopedic physician assistant in California?
To work as an orthopedic physician assistant in California, you must hold an active license issued by the Physician Assistant Board of California, which requires completing an accredited master's-level PA program and passing the NCCPA PANCE examination. After licensure, California PAs must practice under a physician supervision agreement filed with their employer. Gaining clinical rotations or residency experience in orthopedic or surgical settings during your PA program strengthens your path into the specialty.
How much do orthopedic physician assistants make in California?
Orthopedic physician assistants in California earn a median of about $165,650 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $99,380 for the lowest 10% to over $225,190 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire orthopedic physician assistants in California?
Employers hiring orthopedic physician assistants in California right now include Sutter Health, 77 Consultants, and Tenet Healthcare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's concentration of large academic medical centers, integrated health systems, and independent orthopedic surgery groups creates consistent demand across the state year-round.
Which California cities have the most orthopedic physician assistant jobs?
The cities with the most orthopedic physician assistant openings in California are Roseville, Sacramento, and Modesto. Los Angeles and San Diego drive volume through their large hospital networks and high-traffic sports medicine programs, while the Bay Area's concentration of academic medical centers and well-funded orthopedic practices sustains steady hiring in markets that might otherwise seem smaller than their listing numbers suggest.
Are there remote orthopedic physician assistant jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Orthopedic physician assistant work is inherently hands-on, requiring direct patient examination, surgical assist, and procedural care that cannot be performed remotely. About 6% of orthopedic physician assistant openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those positions typically involve utilization review, prior authorization support, or telemedicine triage rather than direct orthopedic clinical care.
How can I get hired as a orthopedic physician assistant in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a new-graduate orthopedic or surgical PA residency, with programs available through institutions such as Cedars-Sinai and Kaiser Permanente in California that are designed for PAs who have not yet practiced independently in the specialty. Lateral entry from emergency medicine, urgent care, or primary care PA roles is also common, particularly at orthopedic urgent care centers and sports medicine clinics. Completing orthopedic rotations during your PA program and obtaining Basic X-Ray Supervisor and Operator certification from the California Department of Public Health strengthens a new-graduate application considerably.
Where can I find and apply to orthopedic physician assistant jobs in California?
You can find and apply to orthopedic physician assistant jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty interest and apply directly to each one.
See All 42 Orthopedic Physician Assistant Jobs in California
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