Paycheck Atlas

Physician Assistants salary in Santa Cruz, CA

The median physician assistants in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $159,030 a year, 17% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $9,069 a month.

10th percentile
$126,690
25th percentile
$137,130
Median percentile
$159,030
75th percentile
$167,330
90th percentile
$208,760

Based on 120 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$108,831 take-home a year
Gross pay$159,030
Federal income tax−$26,901
Social Security + Medicare−$12,166
California income tax (approx.)−$11,132
Monthly take-home$9,069
Every two weeks$4,186

Does it go far here?

$144,710Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
25%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,264 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

JobMedian pay
Registered Nurses$170,960
Software Developers$156,910
Sales Managers$117,090
General and Operations Managers$105,360
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$99,260
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,810
Accountants and Auditors$84,920
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$84,010

All physician assistants salaries · Take-home pay in California