PA Salary

Amherst Town vs Boston: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between Amherst Town, MA and Boston, MA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Amherst Town, MA
$139,337
$66.99/hr
Boston, MA
$147,138
$70.74/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAmherst Town, MABoston, MA
Median Salary$139,337$147,138
Hourly Rate$66.99$70.74
Entry Level (P10)$103,134$67,385
25th Percentile$127,652$132,270
75th Percentile$170,984$178,341
Top Earner (P90)$174,322$212,447
Total Employed603,550
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Amherst Town ($139,337) and Boston ($147,138) physician assistant salaries.Amherst TownBostonMedian Salary$139,337$147,138Entry Level (P10)$103,134$67,385Top Earner (P90)$174,322$212,447US Median $140,391

Verdict

Boston, MA offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Amherst Town.

The salary gap between Amherst Town and Boston is $7,801 (5.60%). Boston's median is +4.81% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Amherst Town spans $71,188,Boston spans $145,062. Boston has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced physician assistants.

Amherst Town
P10 (Entry)$103,134
P25$127,652
Median$139,337
P75$170,984
P90 (Top)$174,322
Boston
P10 (Entry)$67,385
P25$132,270
Median$147,138
P75$178,341
P90 (Top)$212,447

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Amherst Town ($138,999 effective) pays 2.28% more than Boston ($135,904 effective).

Amherst Town
Nominal: $139,337
CoL Index: 100.243
Adjusted: $138,999
Boston
Nominal: $147,138
CoL Index: 108.266
Adjusted: $135,904

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Amherst Town if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $138,999)
  • You prefer the Massachusetts area and lifestyle

Choose Boston if…

  • Higher median salary ($147,138/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($212,447)
  • Larger job market (3,550 employed)
  • You prefer the Massachusetts area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in Amherst Town grew -0.3% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 26.6% growth in Boston over the same period.

Amherst Town, MA

+-0.3%

$135,200 (2024) → $134,860 (2025)

Boston, MA

+26.6%

$112,520 (2019) → $142,410 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: Amherst Town or Boston?

Boston has a higher median physician assistant salary at $147,138/year, compared to Amherst Town at $139,337/year — a difference of $7,801 (5.60%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Amherst Town and Boston?

Amherst Town physician assistants earn $66.99/hr while Boston hygienists earn $70.74/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Amherst Town to Boston as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Amherst Town and Boston. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Amherst Town = $138,999, Boston = $135,904), job availability (60 vs 3,550 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in Amherst Town vs Boston?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $103,134 in Amherst Town and $67,385 in Boston. The Amherst Town area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JT

Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C

Career Analyst

Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Chen, PA-CData verified by Amina Patel, MSPAS, PA-C

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.32% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov