NY · Albany · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Albany, NY

Pay for physician assistants in the Albany area centers on $63.81 per hour, or about $132,730 a year. The lower quarter earns under $57.56 and the upper quarter over $72.07. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Albany. That ranks 116th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 179th of 301 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Albany.

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Physician Assistant pay in Albany, NY

The metro median is 13% below the New York statewide median of $73.39 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 700 physician assistants employed in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy metro area, 1.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.56).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$51.68$107,49019% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$57.56$119,72010% below U.S. median
Median$63.81$132,730in line with U.S. median
Upper quartile$72.07$149,91012% above U.S. median
Top 10%$78.53$163,34023% above U.S. median

How Albany ranks

  • 116th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 179th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th of 11 New York metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Albany

  • Overall prices in Albany-Schenectady-Troy run in line with the U.S. average (index 99.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 3% above the U.S. average (index 102.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $63.81 median hour buys what $64.09 buys at the national price level, in line with the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Albany paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,297
  • Per year: $114,858
  • Per month: $9,572

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Albany-Schenectady-Troy metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Albany

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$117
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,421
13-week assignment$18,473

Travel physician assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Albany

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Albany, 0 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Albany Va Medical Center
Albany, NY
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
St Peter's Hospital
Albany, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Capital District Psych Center
Albany, NY
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Albany County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Albany County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Physician Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Troy, NY8 mi$63.81/hr51,065
Schenectady, NY11 mi$63.81/hr69,495
Chicopee, MA71 mi$71.27/hr55,381
Springfield, MA75 mi$71.27/hr154,888
Utica, NY78 mi$61.35/hr63,660
Bristol, CT81 mi$66.56/hr62,195

Physician Assistant jobs in New York · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New York

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New York requires for your role with the New York licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

New York taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

New York state guide

Other healthcare roles in Albany

Albany city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Albany, NY?

Physician Assistants in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy metro area have a median pay of $63.81 per hour, about $132,730 a year. The middle half earn between $57.56 and $72.07 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Albany a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?

Albany-Schenectady-Troy ranks 179th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 116th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run in line with the U.S. average.

Who is hiring physician assistants in Albany?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Albany. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Albany.

Do I need a New York license to work in Albany as a physician assistant?

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New York requires for your role with the New York licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Albany in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Albany County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Albany?

The federal per diem benchmark in Albany is $117 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,421 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Albany?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Albany and across New York. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Albany.

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Pay report · PA near Albany, NY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PA pay reportAlbany, NY · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • NewYork-PresbyterianNew York · 16 postings$89.18/ hr$70–$101
  • Mount Sinai Health SystemElmhurst, NY · 2 postings$85.66/ hr$71–$95
  • GoHealth Urgent CareMineola, NY · 8 postings$78.50/ hr$68–$89
  • United Health ServicesJohnson City, NY · 13 postings$73.75/ hr$62–$115

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$68Median$78.50High$101

44 PA postings with published pay in New York, 42 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 44 PA roles

  1. Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant (PA)Permanent
    $166k–$240k/ year
    United Health Services · Johnson City, NY · posted today
  2. Physician Assistant - OBGYN - Rotating - Lower Manhattan CampusPermanent
    $161k–$210k/ year
    NewYork-Presbyterian · New York · posted today

+ 42 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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