California · Ortho PA placement
Orthopedic PA jobs and hiring in Los Angeles
In short
FirstAssistPA places orthopedic PAs with practices and hospitals in Los Angeles, permanent or on 3 to 6 month W-2 contracts, and matches ortho PAs to LA roles for free. Your first placement is free, with a free replacement if you aren't happy. The BLS median for all PAs in the Los Angeles metro was $161,890 in May 2025.
Hiring an ortho PA in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a big, spread-out market. A single ortho group may run clinics in several parts of the county and operate at more than one hospital or surgery center, so the question for a PA is often less about the job title and more about which sites, which days, and how long the drive is between them.
California law requires a PA working in a hospital to be supervised by a physician who has privileges at that hospital. If your PA will first assist at two or three facilities, map which surgeon holds privileges where before you set the OR schedule.
What to plan for
- Which sites the PA covers each day. Put the commute in the offer conversation, not after it.
- Which of your surgeons hold privileges at each hospital or ASC where the PA will assist.
- A full California license for anyone licensed elsewhere. There's no compact or general temporary license.
- Contract PAs in California should be W-2: AB 5's ABC test applies to PAs, and the Labor Code exemption covers physicians, not PAs.
Trauma centers in the area
Adult Level I centers and a selection of Level II centers verified by the American College of Surgeons. LA County also designates centers ACS hasn't verified, so this list isn't complete. If the role includes trauma call, the supervising surgeon needs privileges wherever the PA works.
| Hospital | City | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | Los Angeles | Level I |
| LAC+USC Medical Center | Los Angeles | Level I |
| Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center | Los Angeles | Level I |
| Harbor-UCLA Medical Center | Torrance | Level I |
| Huntington Hospital | Pasadena | Level II |
| Northridge Hospital Medical Center | Northridge | Level II |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center | Mission Hills | Level II |
| St. Mary Medical Center Long Beach | Long Beach | Level II |
Source: American College of Surgeons, Find a Hospital (verified trauma centers), checked September 24, 2026. Designations change; confirm with the hospital.
California PA rules, in brief
A high-level summary for planning a hire, not legal advice. Each point links to its source.
- PAs practice under a written practice agreement with one or more physicians. The practice agreement is where you authorize first and second assist. BPC §3501
- Since January 1, 2026, a physician may supervise up to eight PAs at once, up from four (AB 1501). BPC §3516
- Chart co-signature is optional unless the practice agreement requires it. In a hospital, the supervising physician must hold privileges there. BPC §3502
- California is not in the PA Licensure Compact and has no general temporary license, so an out-of-state PA needs a full California license first. PA Board
- AB 5's ABC test covers PAs (Labor Code 2783(b) exempts physicians, not PAs), so contract PAs should be W-2. Labor Code §2783
What PAs are paid in Los Angeles
Government data for all physician assistants, not ortho specifically. Use it as an anchor, then adjust for first assist, call and experience. The U.S. median was $135,880 (May 2025).
| Area | Median | Mean | 10th to 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (metro) | $161,890$77.83/hr | $163,340 | $99,570 to $220,580 |
| California, statewide | $165,650$79.64/hr | $169,110 | $99,380 to $225,190 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, Physician Assistants (29-1071), May 2025 estimates.
For practices and for PAs
Hiring in LA?
Permanent, 3 to 6 month contract (locum) or per diem. Your first placement is free, and if you aren't happy with the PA we place, we find a replacement at no cost.
Ortho PA looking in LA?
Free, ortho-only matching. We negotiate rate, stipend and schedule, and never send your CV without asking.
Questions about LA
Can one orthopedic PA cover several hospitals in Los Angeles?
Yes, if the schedule allows it. Under California law, a PA working in a hospital must be supervised by a physician with privileges at that hospital, so plan the PA's sites around where your surgeons hold privileges.
Does a PA need a California license to work in Los Angeles?
Yes. California is not in the PA Licensure Compact and has no general temporary license, so a PA licensed only in another state needs a full California license before starting. We plan start dates around that timeline.
What do physician assistants earn in Los Angeles?
The BLS median for all physician assistants in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro was $161,890 in May 2025. That covers all specialties; ortho pay depends on first assist, call and experience.
What does FirstAssistPA charge to place an orthopedic PA in Los Angeles?
Nothing for your first placement, permanent or contract. If you aren't happy with the PA we place, for any reason, we find a replacement at no cost. PAs never pay a fee.