Physician Assistant salary in Rochester, NY
Physician Assistants in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median of $130,430 a year ($62.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $109,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,390 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 19% lower than the New York statewide median of $160,880. There are 2.5 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $132,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Rochester, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $109,130 | $52.47 |
| 25th percentile | $129,490 | $62.25 |
| Median | $130,430 | $62.71 |
| 75th percentile | $133,350 | $64.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,390 | $74.71 |
| Average (mean) | $132,760 | $63.83 |
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 | $10,869.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,434.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,016.54 |
| Weekly | $2,508.27 |
| Hourly | $62.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $130,430 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 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $128,870 | 60 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $126,360 | 1,040 |
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 Rochester, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $86,570 | $41.62 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $128,110 | $61.59 |
| Physical Therapist | $83,070 | $39.94 |
| Pharmacist | $136,310 | $65.54 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $80,220 | $38.57 |
| Dental Hygienist | $93,650 | $45.02 |
| Occupational Therapist | $81,750 | $39.30 |
| Physicians, All Other | $214,550 | $103.15 |
| Dentists, General | $167,480 | $80.52 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,990 | $39.90 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $78,990 | $37.98 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Anesthesiologist | $366,040 | $175.98 |
| Veterinarian | $127,580 | $61.34 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, 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 Rochester, NY?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Rochester, NY metro area is $130,430 a year, or $62.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $109,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $155,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Rochester, NY?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Rochester, NY metro area earn at least $155,390 a year. The top 25% earn $133,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Rochester, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $109,130 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $129,490 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Rochester, NY?
About 1,230 physician assistants are employed in the Rochester, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.