Psychiatric Physician Assistant- Sacramento, CA
Listed compensation
$170k-$180k
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Ascend Healthcare is committed to providing fully integrated, quality psychiatric and behavioral health services in a compassionate, convenient, and affordable manner.
We work with external partners to provide services to patients across the country through integrated psychiatric medication management, substance use disorder treatment, counseling services, peer support and care coordination for seamless patient care.
We believe in a “no wrong door” treatment model which finds ways to say “yes” to any patient referral rather than a multitude of exclusionary criteria found elsewhere. This approach reflects our values of improved patient and clinician experience, better outcomes, and lower costs.
The Ascend Story
Founded to transform mental health care access, Ascend Healthcare delivers integrated psychiatric and behavioral health solutions with a commitment to equity, compassion, and operational excellence. We partner directly with health centers to build fully integrated, sustainable behavioral health programs—bringing deep clinical expertise, operational support, and long-term stability.
Our Work Environment Fosters
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Patient-First Mindset
- Career Growth and Professional Development Training
Why Ascend?
You’ll be joining a team delivering innovative, compassionate care to communities that need it most. At Ascend, your work drives real impact—and your career grows alongside it. We believe in a “no wrong door” treatment model that finds ways to say “yes” to any patient referral rather than a multitude of exclusionary criteria found elsewhere.
Position Summary
We are looking for a Psychiatric PA-C to provide psychiatric and substance use disorder treatment to our patients. Services will be provided in-person to patients of our Community Health Center partner in Sacramento, CA. We are a "say yes" first clinical provider and look to treat patients where they are and guide them along their journey to recovery and stabilization.
*Providers must be able to work in-person in Sacramento, CA
Key Areas of Ownership
Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluations for General Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder across all age spectrums.
- Psychopharmacological management of all psychiatric diagnosed treatment conditions
- Provide medication-assisted treatment to those with OUD in active withdrawal or recovery.
- Supportive psychotherapy, motivational interviewing and proficiency in trauma informed approach, harm reduction modeling and patient-centered treatments.
- Demonstrate proficiency and care coordination between psych, substance use tx and medical integration.
Direct Support for Scheduled and Walk-in Patients
Completion of validated rating scales documentation and treatment plans to assist in determining level of care.
Care coordination for patients including psychological testing, medical referrals, resources, peer supports, housing and other social determinants otherwise identified.
Direct involvement with multidisciplinary team including PCP's, Pediatricians, OB/GYN, counseling, peer support staff and care coordinators.
Qualifications
- Active and unrestricted Medical License in CA
- 2+ years of experience as a Psych provider (prefered)
- DEA License
- Bilingual- English and Spanish (preferred)
A Patient-first Mindset
- Physical Requirements: This is a in-person position. Please be aware the below physical requirements should be considered prior to applying to the position:
- Prolonged Sitting: Ability to sit for extended periods during working hours.
- Manual Dexterity: Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for using a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment.
- Visual Requirements: Adequate vision for reading computer screens and documents.
- Communication: Clear verbal and written communication skills for virtual meetings and correspondence.
- Hearing: Sufficient hearing ability for participating in phone calls or virtual meetings.
Work Environment
Access to a quiet, dedicated workspace free from distractions with reliable internet connectivity.
Perks
- Monthly Bonus Program
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and LTD benefits
- PTO + Company Holidays
- Yearly CEU Stipend
- Collaborative Environment
- Clinician Owned and Operated
- Job Type: Full-time
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm PST
- Salary: $170,000-$180,000
- Clinic Location: Sacramento, California.
- Monthly Bonus Program
Benefits
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental Insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Vision Insurance
Ascend Healthcare is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.
Ascend Healthcare participates in conducting comprehensive background checks and drug screenings for all potential employees as a contingency to gaining employment status.
Key Responsibilities
The Psychiatric PA-C will provide psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, psychopharmacological management, and substance use disorder treatment to patients in an in-person clinical setting. They will also coordinate care across multidisciplinary teams and maintain accurate documentation for treatment plans and rating scales.
Key Skills
Psychiatry — Physician Assistant Career Context
Of the 50 active Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 16% are remote, 56% have no call, 72% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$175k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $158k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.0 / 10 · above average in physician assistant roles | ranked against 4,605 Physician Assistant roles listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $170k–$180k | Psychiatry median $126k (middle half $110k–$155k)40 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$158k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Psychiatry listings in California | 9 active | 69 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 16% remote · 56% no call · 72% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | sign-on bonus | California Physician Assistant listings: 25% state a sign-on bonus · 11% offer loan repayment411 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| Psychiatry hiring demand | not ranked this month | postings stay open a median 40 daysWeekdayDoc Hiring Index, October 2026 · 23 postings, 28 closed |
| New Psychiatry listings | 1,345 in the last 30 days | 1,054 the 30 days before (+28%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Psychiatry pay trend | +7.1% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
| Ascend Healthcare | silver tier, 73/100 · #3 of 13 for pay | Top Employers work-life index21 active listings |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Psychiatric Physician Assistant- Sacramento, CA at Ascend Healthcare a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Physician Assistant roles — ranked against 4,605 active Physician Assistant roles listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.
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