Physician Assistants Salary in Long Beach, CA (2026)
Based on BLS data · Cost of living adjusted · Updated 2026 · 1 min read
Average Salary
$179,032
per year
Cost of Living Adjusted
$110,513
effective purchasing power
vs National Average
+37%
national avg: $130,490
Salary Range in Long Beach
25th %ile
$148,313
Entry
Median
$178,387
Mid
75th %ile
$208,159
Senior
Compare across cities
See how Physician Assistants salaries stack up in different cities side by side.
Your $179,032 salary in Long Beach has the buying power of $110,513 in an average American city. That $68,519 gap isn't theoretical—it's rent, groceries, and gas. The 5% year-over-year growth is solid, but you need to know exactly what you're trading for it.
Complete Physician Assistants Salary Guide — Long Beach
Based on BLS data · Updated 2026
What This Salary Is Actually Worth
You're looking at $179,032. That sounds substantial. Then reality hits: your effective purchasing power is $110,513. That's a $68,519 gap. In Long Beach, that difference is your rent, your car payment, your ability to save.
To put it plainly: your $179,032 here buys what $110,513 buys in the average American city. You're earning more on paper but living on less in practice.
Long Beach's cost of living index sits at 162—meaning everything costs 62% more than the national baseline. Housing dominates that number. A modest two-bedroom rental runs $2,400–$2,800 monthly. Groceries are 15–20% above national average. Gas hovers near $4.50 a gallon. These aren't luxuries. They're baseline expenses.
Salary Distribution — Physician Assistants in Long Beach
25th percentile: $148,313, Median: $178,387, Average: $179,032, 75th percentile: $208,159, National average: $130,490
Frequently Asked Questions
It's above the national average ($130,490) but your effective purchasing power is only $110,513 due to Long Beach's 162 cost of living index. Whether it's "good" depends on your expenses and whether you have dual household income. The headline number looks strong; the reality is tighter.
After federal and California state taxes (~40% effective rate), your $179K becomes roughly $107K. Rent for a modest two-bedroom runs $2,400–$2,800 monthly ($28,800–$33,600 annually). That's 27–31% of your after-tax income before utilities, insurance, or food.
Yes, but slowly. Long Beach shows 5% year-over-year salary growth, which is healthy but below the national PA growth rate of 6–7%. The market is stable, not explosive—you won't see rapid wage increases, but demand remains steady.
Specialize in high-demand areas (emergency medicine, orthopedics, cardiology) for $15K–$25K premiums, pursue board certification to justify moving from median to 75th percentile, or negotiate production bonuses (20–30% of compensation tied to patient volume). Know your specialty's range before negotiating.
Long Beach PAs earn $48,542 more than the national average ($179,032 vs. $130,490). However, after adjusting for cost of living, a PA in a median-cost city often has more actual purchasing power. The headline advantage disappears when you factor in housing and taxes.
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