State comparison · 2025
Physician Assistants salary: California vs Tennessee
Physician Assistants in California earn a median of $165,650. In Tennessee, $118,240. After cost-of-living, the gap is 16.3% — not 40.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+40.1%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+16.3%
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%
Tennessee
Physician Assistants
- Median
- $118,240
- p25
- $102,690
- p75
- $132,500
- p10
- $93,380
- p90
- $141,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
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.