Physician Assistant salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Physician Assistants in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $126,360 a year ($60.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $98,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,880 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 21% lower than the New York statewide median of $160,880. There are 1.9 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $127,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,820 | $47.51 |
| 25th percentile | $105,240 | $50.59 |
| Median | $126,360 | $60.75 |
| 75th percentile | $144,810 | $69.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,880 | $77.35 |
| Average (mean) | $127,510 | $61.30 |
Half of physician assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,530 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,265 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,860 |
| Weekly | $2,430 |
| Hourly | $60.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $126,360 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physician Assistant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $167,650 | 16,800 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $154,610 | 510 |
| Kingston, NY | $150,470 | 40 |
| Binghamton, NY | $146,120 | 200 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $140,300 | 120 |
| Ithaca, NY | $138,920 | 230 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $137,850 | 770 |
| Elmira, NY | $137,550 | 60 |
| Syracuse, NY | $133,000 | 590 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $132,700 | 100 |
| Rochester, NY | $130,430 | 1,230 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $128,870 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 |
| California | $165,650 |
| Washington | $164,360 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 |
| New York | $160,880 |
| Oregon | $155,780 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 |
| Alaska | $150,700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 |
See Physician Assistant pay in every state or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $99,060 | $47.63 |
| Physicians, All Other | $108,510 | $52.17 |
| Physical Therapist | $95,800 | $46.06 |
| Pharmacist | $137,900 | $66.30 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,220 | $63.57 |
| Occupational Therapist | $81,560 | $39.21 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| Dental Hygienist | $82,470 | $39.65 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $86,720 | $41.69 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $77,990 | $37.49 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $186,600 | $89.71 |
| Dentists, General | $178,260 | $85.70 |
| Veterinarian | $127,500 | $61.30 |
| Emergency Medicine Physician | $303,190 | $145.76 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $126,360 a year, or $60.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $98,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $160,880 a year. The top 25% earn $144,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $98,820 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $105,240 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 1,040 physician assistants are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.