Physician Assistant Salary in Buffalo, NY
Physician Assistants in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $126,360 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $91,218 take-home, or $7,602 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$19,060
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,834
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,832
- New York income tax$6,415
- Take-home pay$91,218
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.90% state
Physician Assistant pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,820 | $47.51 | $73,560 | $6,130 |
| 25th percentile | $105,240 | $50.60 | $77,697 | $6,475 |
| Median (50th) | $126,360 | $60.75 | $91,218 | $7,602 |
| 75th percentile | $144,810 | $69.62 | $102,740 | $8,562 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,880 | $77.35 | $112,776 | $9,398 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,360 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physician assistant's $91,218 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,173 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Buffalo, NY has 1.9× the national concentration of physician assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for physician assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #58 of 71 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $223,640 | $146,400 | $132,581 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $140,160 | $107,065 | $113,038 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,290 | $125,609 | $113,026 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City, OK | $138,920 | $100,512 | $111,176 |
| 5 | Dayton, OH | $138,400 | $102,839 | $110,944 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $152,710 | $115,643 | $109,698 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $135,860 | $101,173 | $107,719 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $137,550 | $102,281 | $107,135 |
| 58 | Buffalo, NY | $126,360 | $91,218 | $95,173 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 71 metros →
Physician Assistant salaries elsewhere in New York
- New York, NY — $167,650
- Syracuse, NY — $133,000
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $154,610
- Albany, NY — $137,850
- Rochester, NY — $130,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Buffalo, NY?
The median physician assistant salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $126,360 a year, or about $60.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $105,240 and $144,810.
What is a physician assistant’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $126,360 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $91,218 a year ($7,602 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,415 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $135,880. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,173 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #58 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physician assistant afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median physician assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Pharmacist — $137,900
- Nurse Practitioner — $132,220
- Physicians, All Other — $108,510
- Registered Nurse — $99,060
- Physical Therapist — $95,800
- Respiratory Therapist — $86,720
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $83,090
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $82,890
- Dental Hygienist — $82,470
- Occupational Therapist — $81,560
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $78,050
- Surgical Technologist — $77,440