Physician Assistant Jobs in California

Physician assistant jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated in primary care, urgent care, orthopedics, and oncology across a range of settings from large academic medical centers to outpatient specialty clinics, with openings at every level from new-graduate PAs to senior-level and lead positions. The heaviest hiring is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where established systems like Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and Stanford Health Care maintain consistent demand. Orthopedics, dermatology, and hospital medicine are among the most in-demand specialties right now. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles287+
Top employerKaiser Permanente
Top citySacramento, CA
Cities hiring127
Work type88% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 287+ Physician Assistant jobs

Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant NP PA Primary Care
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Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant NP PA Primary Care
Onestop Aesthetic Travel and Wellness Center
Pleasanton, California
Healthcare Administration
Medical Specialists
Physicians
$165k - $185k/yr
On-Site
11-50

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Physician Assistant – Primary Care
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Physician Assistant – Primary Care
Medical Wellness Doc
Imperial Beach, California
Higher Education
Research & Academia
Teaching & Instruction
On-Site
BLS Certification

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Physician Assistant / Family Nurse Practitioner
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Physician Assistant / Family Nurse Practitioner
Narkar Health Foundation
Lynwood, California
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$55 - $70/hr

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A Part Time Practice of Your Own! Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant
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Added 2d ago
A Part Time Practice of Your Own! Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant
Hootan Zandifar, MD
Newport Beach, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
$55 - $70/hr
BLS Certification

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Audiology Assistant & Community Physician Outreach Coordinator
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Added 2d ago
Audiology Assistant & Community Physician Outreach Coordinator
Los Gatos Audiology
Los Gatos, California
Administrative & Office Support
Program Management
Project Management
$25 - $30/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in social work

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Physician Assistant Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Diego
15 jobs
Roseville
10 jobs
Riverside
9 jobs
Fresno
7 jobs
San Francisco
7 jobs
Oakland
6 jobs
Orange
5 jobs

Physician Assistant Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Kaiser Permanente19
  • Sutter Health13
  • Community Behavioral Health11
  • Planned Parenthood7
  • UC San Diego Health7

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Education
  • Insurance
  • Science & Research

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in physician assistant jobs across California.

  • Active California Physician Assistant license issued by the Physician Assistant Board of California
  • Master's degree from an ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program
  • Current NCCPA certification including passing the PANCE examination
  • DEA registration and experience prescribing medications in a clinical setting
  • Minimum two years of clinical experience in a relevant specialty preferred
  • Current BLS certification with ACLS certification required for acute care settings

Physician Assistant Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a physician assistant in California?

You become a physician assistant in California by completing a master's degree from an ARC-PA accredited PA program, passing the PANCE, and applying for licensure through the Physician Assistant Board of California, which operates under the California Department of Consumer Affairs. California requires a current, active PA license before you can practice. Most programs include supervised clinical rotations across specialties, and many California hospitals expect applicants to have rotations or clinical hours completed in-state.

How much do physician assistants make in California?

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 physician assistants in California?

Employers hiring physician assistants in California right now include Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Community Behavioral Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's size and mix of large integrated health systems, independent specialty groups, and federally qualified health centers means consistent openings across multiple practice settings statewide.

Which California cities have the most physician assistant jobs?

Sacramento, San Diego, and Los Angeles are the California cities with the most physician assistant openings, reflecting the concentration of large hospital systems, academic medical centers, and specialty group practices in those metros. Los Angeles and San Francisco anchor the market through sheer size and the density of health systems headquartered there, while San Diego's strong military, VA, and research hospital presence sustains steady demand independent of the other two markets.

Are there remote physician assistant jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. About 12% of physician assistant openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the hands-on, patient-facing nature of most PA roles. The portions of the work most suited to remote settings are telehealth visits, chronic disease management follow-ups, and prior authorization or utilization review roles, which larger California health systems have expanded in recent years.

How can I get hired as a physician assistant in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate PA residency or fellowship programs, which Kaiser Permanente, Stanford Health Care, and UC Health all run in California across specialties including family medicine, emergency medicine, and hospital medicine. These structured programs are designed for PAs with limited post-graduate experience. Applying for roles in urgent care or correctional health settings is also a proven lateral entry point, as both regularly hire new graduates. Completing California-based clinical rotations and holding an active California PA license before applying gives candidates a measurable edge.

Where can I find and apply to physician assistant jobs in California?

You can find and apply to physician assistant jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across health systems, specialty practices, and outpatient clinics. Find the roles that fit your specialty, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to each one.

See All 287+ Physician Assistant Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Physician Assistant Jobs