Physician Assistant salary in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
Physician Assistants in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn a median of $128,870 a year ($61.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $102,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,290 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 20% lower than the New York statewide median of $160,880. There are 1.4 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $133,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,500 | $49.28 |
| 25th percentile | $119,720 | $57.56 |
| Median | $128,870 | $61.96 |
| 75th percentile | $150,410 | $72.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,290 | $77.06 |
| Average (mean) | $133,420 | $64.14 |
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 | $10,739.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,369.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,956.54 |
| Weekly | $2,478.27 |
| Hourly | $61.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $128,870 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 |
| 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $96,070 | $46.19 |
| Physical Therapist | $87,200 | $41.93 |
| Occupational Therapist | $89,720 | $43.14 |
| Pharmacist | $143,250 | $68.87 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $90,180 | $43.36 |
| Dental Hygienist | $81,170 | $39.02 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $133,900 | $64.38 |
| Physicians, All Other | $121,040 | $58.19 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $74,680 | $35.90 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $41,190 | $19.80 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $82,180 | $39.51 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $50,890 | $24.47 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Watertown-Fort Drum, 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area is $128,870 a year, or $61.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $102,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn at least $160,290 a year. The top 25% earn $150,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $102,500 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $119,720 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
About 60 physician assistants are employed in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.