State comparison · 2025
Physician Assistants salary: California vs South Dakota
Physician Assistants in California earn a median of $165,650. In South Dakota, $133,200. After cost-of-living, the gap is 0.5% — not 24.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+24.4%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
-0.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Physician Assistants
- Median
- $165,650
- p25
- $136,730
- p75
- $206,990
- p10
- $99,380
- p90
- $225,190
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- 0%
South Dakota
Physician Assistants
- Median
- $133,200
- p25
- $112,570
- p75
- $142,330
- p10
- $104,660
- p90
- $158,020
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.