A Physician Assistant earning $120K/year in California takes home $82,821 after all taxes. That’s $6,902/month, with an effective tax rate of 31.0%.
The estimated median salary for Physician Assistants in California is $170K (adjusted from the national median of $120K using California’s cost-of-living index of 142). At $120K, you’re earning 29% below the state-adjusted median for this profession.
You’re earning slightly below the state-adjusted median, which is common for mid-career Physician Assistants or those in lower-cost areas within California. The salary range for Physician Assistants nationally is 90K–160K, so there’s room for growth as you gain experience and specialization.
Filing as married filing jointly on $120K (single earner) saves you $7,585/year ($632/month) compared to filing single. This marriage bonus comes from the doubled standard deduction ($32,200 vs $16,100) and wider lower brackets.
Physician assistants who take on locum tenens (temporary) assignments may receive 1099 income subject to self-employment tax. If you work in multiple states during a year, you may owe taxes in each state where you practiced. Continuing medical education (CME) expenses are no longer deductible federally as unreimbursed employee expenses, but some employers reimburse them tax-free. If you carry student loan debt, the student loan interest deduction (up to $2,500) phases out at higher income levels.
At #50 out of 50 states for take-home pay on a $120K salary, California is one of the highest-tax states at this salary level. You’d keep $10,374 more per year in Alaska (#1), or $865/month.
After adjusting for cost of living, California ranks #49 in purchasing power. That’s a boost from #50 in raw take-home — California’s lower costs stretch your paycheck further.