California · Ortho PA placement
Orthopedic PA jobs and hiring in the San Francisco Bay Area
In short
FirstAssistPA places orthopedic PAs in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Peninsula, Palo Alto, San Jose and the East Bay, permanent or on 3 to 6 month W-2 contracts. BLS medians for all PAs in May 2025 were $223,640 in the San Jose metro and $184,380 in San Francisco-Oakland, against $165,650 statewide. Your first placement is free.
Hiring an ortho PA in the San Francisco Bay Area
BLS pay data puts Bay Area PA medians well above the California median, and the Bay Area costs more to live in, too. For contract roles, housing is often the item that decides whether a good out-of-area PA says yes, so it belongs in the offer from the start.
The region is several markets joined by bridges and freeways. A PA living in the East Bay may not want a Peninsula clinic, and a South Bay role draws on a different pool than San Francisco. We ask where a PA will actually commute before we send you their name.
What to plan for
- Housing or a stipend for any contract or relocating hire.
- Which side of the bay the PA lives on, and realistic commute times.
- Privileges at each hospital where the PA will assist or take call.
- 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. Counties also designate centers ACS hasn't verified, so this list isn't complete.
| Hospital | City | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center | San Francisco | Level I |
| Stanford Health Care | Palo Alto | Level I |
| Santa Clara Valley Medical Center | San Jose | Level I |
| Highland Hospital (Alameda Health System) | Oakland | Level I |
| Eden Medical Center | Castro Valley | Level II |
| John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek | Walnut Creek | 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 the San Francisco Bay Area
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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (metro) | $223,640$107.52/hr | $207,660 | $100,240 to $287,420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont (metro) | $184,380$88.65/hr | $182,610 | $106,150 to $237,980 |
| 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 the Bay Area?
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 the Bay Area?
Free, ortho-only matching. We negotiate rate, stipend and schedule, and never send your CV without asking.
Questions about the Bay Area
What do physician assistants earn in the Bay Area?
BLS medians for all PAs in May 2025: $223,640 in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro and $184,380 in San Francisco-Oakland, against $165,650 for California as a whole. Ortho pay depends on first assist, call and experience.
Do you place contract orthopedic PAs in Palo Alto and the Peninsula?
Yes. We place 3 to 6 month W-2 contract PAs and permanent hires across the Bay Area, including Palo Alto and the Peninsula. For contract roles we negotiate housing or a travel stipend into the offer.
Does a PA need a California license to work in the Bay Area?
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 does FirstAssistPA charge to place an orthopedic PA in the San Francisco Bay Area?
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.