Looking for physician assistant jobs in California? Barton Associates specializes in locum tenens PA jobs, with well over a decade of experience placing locum tenens physician assistants (PAs) on short and long-term assignments throughout the US.
What’s it like to work as a physician assistant in California? Visit our Physician Assistant Guide to Locum Tenens Jobs in California here.
Looking to work your next physician assistant job in California, but aren’t licensed in the state yet? If you’re already licensed to practice as a physician assistant in another state, our expert licensing team will work with you to secure your California PA license, on us.
We are seeking a dedicated Plastic Surgery Physician Assistant for a 120-day locum tenens assignment with our client in California, starting Mar 30, 2026. This vital role involves providing comprehensive care within the Plastic Surgery and Burn department, including daily 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM shifts, with one dedicated OR day each week. Key responsibilities...
Location:CA
Specialty:Plastic Surgery
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
Our client in California is seeking an experienced Physician Assistant - Surgery - Otolaryngology/ENT for a 60-day assignment, beginning Mar 30, 2026. This role involves 8a-5p shifts, with a primary focus on follow-up and outpatient visits for ENT/Otolaryngology/Head and Neck cases. The Physician Assistant will be instrumental in managing all ENT outpatient...
Location:CA
Specialty:Otolaryngology/ENT Surgery
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
We are seeking a dedicated Urgent Care Physician Assistant for an exciting 260-day assignment with our client in California, starting Jul 1, 2026. This role involves night shifts from 4pm-2am, primarily focused on seeing patients for 9 hours out of a 10-hour scheduled shift within a fast-track emergency medicine environment. You will provide excellent...
Location:CA
Specialty:Urgent Care
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
We are seeking a Thoracic Surgery Physician Assistant for a 60-day assignment in California, starting Mar 30, 2026. This role involves managing pre-operative and post-operative thoracic cases, rounding on patients daily, and covering the thoracic floor during 7a-5p shifts at a specialized thoracic-only surgery center.Responsibilities and DutiesRounding...
Location:CA
Specialty:Thoracic Surgery
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
We are seeking an experienced Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant for a high-acuity adult inpatient locum tenens assignment in California. This opportunity begins on Mar 2, 2026, with a 120-day contract, offering full-time Monday to Friday shifts, 8 am to 5 pm, and regular weekday and weekend call coverage. The role is fully inpatient with no...
Location:CA
Specialty:Cardiothoracic Surgery
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
We are seeking a dedicated Family Practice Physician Assistant for a 30-day assignment in California, starting Apr 27, 2026. This role involves covering primary care in skilled nursing facilities across two locations, focusing on patient needs with a typical schedule of 8a-5p or 9a-6p shifts.Responsibilities and DutiesProvide comprehensive primary care...
Location:CA
Specialty:Family Practice
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
Our client in California is seeking an Urgent Care Physician Assistant for a 60-day assignment beginning May 18, 2026. This role involves managing a high volume of high-acuity cases, requiring proficiency in procedures such as laceration repair, fracture management, and independent urgent care functions. Shifts are typically 10 or 12 hours between 9...
Location:CA
Specialty:Urgent Care
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
We are seeking an Oncology - Medical Physician Assistant for a 120-day assignment starting Jun 8, 2026, in California. The schedule involves Monday through Friday shifts from 8am-5pm with no call or weekends, focusing on managing a diverse panel of oncology and hematology patients, including follow-ups, new consults, and implementing chemotherapy plans...
Location:CA
Specialty:Oncology - Medical
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
We are seeking a Family Practice Physician Assistant for a 60-day assignment in California, starting May 4, 2026. This role involves performing routine physical exams, assessing and managing acute and chronic conditions, ordering diagnostics, prescribing medications, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, with shifts typically running from...
Location:CA
Specialty:Family Practice
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
Our client in California is actively seeking a skilled Physician Assistant - Pediatrics to embark on a 34-day assignment, commencing Jun 27, 2026. This dynamic role involves providing comprehensive care, including managing pediatric cases, performing physical examinations, and addressing sick visits, all within a framework of various shift options....
Location:CA
Specialty:Pediatrics
Provider Type:Physician Assistant
Locum tenens PA jobs are contract roles designed to fill gaps in care at healthcare facilities over a specific timeframe. These assignments can range from a week to well over a year. Locum and travel physician assistants hold all the same qualifications as a permanent physician assistant, and often choose locum work for higher pay and increased flexibility. Explore our locum tenens guide to learn more.
In California, the average PA salary is $153,960 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
PAs in California must have a written practice agreement with at least one supervising physician. It should outline the policies, procedures, and a level of supervision required. In general, PAs in California have moderate practice authority. Moderate authority refers to the fact that state law requires additional administrative burdens. This impacts the practice environment and limits the PA.
In California, physician assistants (PAs) must engage in continuing education (CE) to maintain their license and stay up-to-date with medical knowledge. The California Physician Assistant Board sets the CE requirement, which is currently 50 CE hours per two-year renewal cycle. Completing CE ensures PAs remain proficient in their clinical skills, promotes lifelong learning, and upholds patient safety. By fulfilling the CE requirement, PAs demonstrate their commitment to professional growth and contribute to the overall quality of healthcare services provided in California.
The highest paid PA specialty is cardiovascular surgery at $152,500 annually, according to the American Academy of Physician Associates.
The employment for PAs is expected to grow 27% between 2022 to 2032. This is much faster than other jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are 12,200 openings for PAs every year, over the course of the decade.