PermanentPosted today
Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant (PA)
United Health Services · Johnson City, NY
$166k–$240k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Physician Assistant jobs in Buffalo, NY
Pay for physician assistants in the Buffalo area centers on $58.13 per hour, or about $120,910 a year. The lower quarter earns under $49.75 and the upper quarter over $66.01. That ranks 269th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 246th of 301 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 7 hospitals in Buffalo. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Buffalo.
- $58.13median pay per hour, Buffalo
- $50–$66typical range per hour
- 1,200physician assistants employed in the metro area
- 96cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Physician Assistant pay in Buffalo, NY
The metro median is 21% below the New York statewide median of $73.39 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 1,200 physician assistants employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro area, 2.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.24).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $42.74 | $88,900 | 33% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $49.75 | $103,480 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Median | $58.13 | $120,910 | 9% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $66.01 | $137,300 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $81.37 | $169,250 | 27% above U.S. median |
How Buffalo ranks
- 269th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 246th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
- 11th 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 Buffalo
- Overall prices in Buffalo-Cheektowaga run 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 19% below the U.S. average (index 81.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $58.13 median hour buys what $60.65 buys at the national price level, 5% below 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.
Get the Buffalo Physician Assistant pay report
Named employers near Buffalo, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Buffalo paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,093
- Per year: $104,634
- Per month: $8,720
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Buffalo
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $128 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,456 |
| 13-week assignment | $18,928 |
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).
Open Physician Assistant roles in New York
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Buffalo as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Physician Assistant - OBGYN - Rotating - Lower Manhattan Campus
NewYork-Presbyterian · New York
$161k–$210k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
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PermanentPosted today
General Physician Assistant-ELM-13400-006
Mount Sinai Health System · Elmhurst, NY
$71.26–$95.01/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Physician Assistant
Premise Health · New York, NY
$155k–$165k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Neuro Interventional Surgery/Neurosurgery Physician Assistant (PA)
United Health Services · Johnson City, NY
$143k–$167k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Spine Care & Pain Relief Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA)
United Health Services · Binghamton, NY
$129k–$152k/ year
New this week
Hospitals in Buffalo
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Buffalo, 1 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upstate New York Va Healthcare System (Western Ny Va Healthcare System) Buffalo, NY | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaleida Health Buffalo, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Sisters Of Charity Hospital Buffalo, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Erie County Medical Center Buffalo, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Mercy Hospital Of Buffalo Buffalo, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Brylin Hosp Buffalo, NY | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Buffalo Psychiatric Center Buffalo, NY | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Erie County
HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Erie County (2 population-group, 5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | 66 mi | $61.86/hr | 207,282 |
| Erie, PA | 82 mi | $54.19/hr | 92,940 |
| Syracuse, NY | 138 mi | $62.37/hr | 146,097 |
| Youngstown, OH | 154 mi | $56.29/hr | 59,123 |
| Cleveland, OH | 174 mi | $63.13/hr | 365,379 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 179 mi | $53.44/hr | 307,668 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Buffalo
Buffalo city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do physician assistants make in Buffalo, NY?
Physician Assistants in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro area have a median pay of $58.13 per hour, about $120,910 a year. The middle half earn between $49.75 and $66.01 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Buffalo a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?
Buffalo-Cheektowaga ranks 246th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 269th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.
Where do physician assistants work in Buffalo?
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Buffalo, led by Upstate New York Va Healthcare System (Western Ny Va Healthcare System). Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a New York license to work in Buffalo 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 Buffalo in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Erie 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 Buffalo?
The federal per diem benchmark in Buffalo is $128 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,456 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Buffalo?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Buffalo and across New York. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Buffalo.
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What do employers near Buffalo pay physician assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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100+ Physician Assistant roles in New York, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your PA pay reportBuffalo, 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
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant (PA)Permanent$166k–$240k/ year
- Physician Assistant - OBGYN - Rotating - Lower Manhattan CampusPermanent$161k–$210k/ year
+ 42 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.