Physician Salary in California
Median annual base pay is $280,606 across 366 reported Physician salaries in California.
Updated 23 September 2026
Salary Distribution (By Percentile)
| P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 |
|---|
| $220,000 | $250,000 | $280,606 | $325,800 | $400,000 |
Top Cities in California
| City | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Hemet | $380,000 | 6 |
| San Diego | $357,700 | 9 |
| Oakland | $330,000 | 8 |
| Fresno | $326,045 | 18 |
| San Francisco | $320,000 | 7 |
| San Jose | $309,920 | 21 |
| Visalia | $301,000 | 11 |
| Bakersfield | $300,000 | 14 |
| Manteca | $300,000 | 6 |
| Apple Valley | $296,046 | 9 |
Top Employers in California
| Employer | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Valley Children's Specialty Medical Group, Inc. | $334,984 | 6 |
| Mark David Levine, M.D., Professional Corporation | $330,000 | 8 |
| H.M. Providers, Inc. | $326,049 | 5 |
| The Permanente Medical Group | $320,040 | 18 |
| North East Medical Services | $320,000 | 7 |
| Community Medical Team, Inc. | $313,726 | 5 |
| Southern California Permanente Medical Group | $309,600 | 7 |
| Family Healthcare Network | $297,000 | 13 |
| Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California, Inc. | $296,046 | 9 |
| CEP America-California | $294,923 | 5 |
By Practice Setting
| Setting | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Hospital (Community) | $275,000 | 25 |
| Hospital (Academic/Teaching) | $238,000 | 8 |
Salary by Level
| Level | Common titles | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Entry | Intern (PGY1) | — | 1 |
| Junior / Early Career | Resident (PGY2-3) | $84,074 | 8 |
| Senior | Fellow · Clinical Instructor | $96,013 | 5 |
| Lead / Expert | Attending Physician · Staff Physician · Assistant Professor | $280,800 | 327 |
By Specialty
| Specialty | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Diagnostic Radiology | $500,000 | 6 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | $346,770 | 7 |
| Psychiatry | $332,800 | 23 |
| Hospital Medicine - Adult | $296,046 | 39 |
| Family Medicine | $280,408 | 41 |
| Internal Medicine | $275,000 | 49 |
| Nephrology | $265,000 | 7 |
| Pediatrics - General | $250,000 | 58 |
How They're Paid
| Model | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Annual Salary | $279,000 | 281 |
| Hourly | $296,046 | 55 |
Physician salaries in other states
Common questions
How much does a Physician make in California?
The median Physician salary in California is $280,606 per year, based on 366 reported salaries.
Which city in California pays Physicians the most?
Hemet has the highest median at $380,000 per year, of the cities with enough reports to publish a median.
How much does a Physician at the Lead / Expert level make in California?
$280,800 per year at the median — $194 above the Physician median in California.
Which employers pay Physicians the most in California?
Of the employers with enough reports to publish a median, Valley Children's Specialty Medical Group, Inc. is highest at $334,984 per year.
Am I underpaid as a Physician?
All Physician salaries · Browse salaries by role