Hire Physician Assistants in San Diego, California
San Diego has 560 licensed physician assistants serving 1.4M residents — 40 per 100K, 13% below the national average. CA healthcare jobs growing 8%.
San Diego has 3.9% of CA's physician assistants supply but 14% of its population. Expect ~49 day fill time. Offer competitive packages with flexible scheduling to stand out.
Physician Assistants Salary Breakdown
2026 projections — use for offer benchmarking
By Experience Level
| Level | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry (0-2 yrs) | $105,000 |
| Mid-Career (3-7 yrs) | $128,000 |
| Senior (8-15 yrs) | $150,000 |
| Expert (15+ yrs) | $170,000 |
By Work Setting
| Setting | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Hospital | $140,000 |
| Outpatient | $128,000 |
| Long-Term Care | $120,000 |
| Home Health | $125,000 |
Tip: To recruit mid-career physician assistants, target offers at $134,400+ to be competitive.
Workforce Supply Analysis
How San Diego Compares to Other CA Cities
| City | Providers | Per 100K | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | 560 | 40 | 1,400,000 |
| Los Angeles | 1,600 | 40 | 4,000,000 |
| San Jose | 400 | 40 | 1,000,000 |
| San Francisco | 350 | 40 | 875,000 |
| Fresno | 216 | 40 | 540,000 |
| Sacramento | 210 | 40 | 525,000 |
| Long Beach | 188 | 40 | 470,000 |
| Oakland | 172 | 40 | 430,000 |
Healthcare Workforce in San Diego
Physician Assistants rank #13 of 19 specialties in San Diego.
CA ranks #1 nationally for physician assistants with 14,200 statewide. San Diego accounts for 3.9% of the state's supply.
California Regulatory & Compliance Quick Reference
Credentialing Timelines
| Hospital Privileging | 60-120 days |
| Insurance Paneling | 90-180 days |
| DEA Registration | 4-6 weeks |
| Malpractice Insurance | 1-2 weeks |
Plan for 60-120 days total onboarding time when making offers. Start credentialing before the candidate's notice period ends to minimize gap.
Retention & Turnover Intelligence
Top Exit Reasons
Top Retention Factors
Cost Impact: At 18.2% turnover, San Diego could see ~102 physician assistants leave annually, costing an estimated $6,778,699 in replacement costs. Proactive retention saves 3-5x vs. reactive recruiting.
Physician Assistants Subspecialties & Titles
In-Demand Subspecialties
Common Job Titles
Boolean Search Terms
"physician assistant jobs" OR "PA positions" OR "PA-C jobs" OR "certified physician assistant"
San Diego Physician Assistants Recruiting Market Overview
San Diego has 560 licensed physician assistants serving a population of 1,400,000 — a ratio of 40 per 100K residents, which is 13% below the national average of 46 per 100K. Among CA cities, Los Angeles leads with 40 per 100K. (Source: CMS NPPES)
The national median salary for physician assistants is $133,020 , ranging from $105,000 for entry-level to $170,000 for 15+ years experience. Hospital settings pay $140,000 on average, while outpatient roles average $128,000. Sign-on bonuses averaging $15,000 are common for hard-to-fill positions (Source: BLS OOH).
California is not a compact state — individual licensure is required. NPs have full practice authority, making it easier to recruit advanced practice providers. Healthcare employment in CA is projected to grow 8%, in line with the national average.
With annual turnover at 18.2% for this specialty, proactive recruiting and retention programs are critical. At current rates, approximately 102 physician assistants in San Diego will change positions annually. Top retention factors include work-life balance (85%), competitive salary (82%), and supportive management (78%). Employers investing in these areas see 25-40% lower turnover.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hiring Physician Assistants in San Diego
How many physician assistants are in San Diego?
San Diego has 560 NPI-registered physician assistants, or 40 per 100K residents — 13% below the national average. (Source: CMS NPPES NPI Registry)
What should I pay physician assistants in San Diego?
The national median is $133,020. Entry-level: $105,000, Senior: $150,000, Expert: $170,000. Sign-on bonuses averaging $15,000 can help close competitive candidates. (Source: BLS 2024)
Is California a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
No, California is not currently a compact state. Individual CA licensure is required for all nurses. The compact currently includes 42 member states.
How long does credentialing take in California?
Hospital privileging: 60-120 days. Insurance paneling: 90-180 days. DEA registration: 4-6 weeks. Start credentialing before the candidate's notice period ends to minimize onboarding gaps.
What is the turnover rate for physician assistants?
The average annual turnover rate is 18.2%. In San Diego, that translates to ~102 position changes annually, costing an estimated $6,778,699 in replacement costs. Top exit reasons: burnout (35%), better pay (28%), career change (12%).
How does San Diego compare to other CA cities?
San Diego has 560 physician assistants, representing 3.9% of CA's total. Los Angeles leads with 1,600 providers, followed by San Jose with 400.
What physician assistants subspecialties are in demand?
Top in-demand subspecialties include Medical PA, Surgical PA, Emergency Medicine PA, Orthopedic PA, Dermatology PA. These niche roles often command premium compensation and longer fill times.
What is the job market outlook for physician assistants?
Employment is projected to grow 8% in CA. With 18.2% annual turnover and aging population demand, recruiters should build proactive pipelines. Average time-to-fill is 49 days.
Hire Physician Assistants in San Diego
“Healthcare workforce shortages continue to drive demand for qualified professionals across all specialties, making recruitment a critical priority for healthcare organizations.”— Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA National Health Workforce Analysis, 2024
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