Physician Assistant Salary in Syracuse, NY: $137,416 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Syracuse, NY earns a median $137,416/year (≈ $66.06/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Syracuse's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.7), that paycheck buys what $143,527 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.5% below the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physician assistants in Syracuse, New York, can expect a median annual salary of $137,416, slightly below the national median of $140,391. The salary range for this role is broad, with the lowest 10% earning approximately $104,560 and the highest 90% making around $176,264. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, illustrates the diverse compensation landscape influenced by factors like the choice between hospital employment (W-2) and independent surgical practice (1099). Consequently, the job market in Syracuse reflects a variety of settings, leading to differing pay levels based on specialty and employment structure.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $104,560 | $50.27 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $115,315 | $55.44 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $137,416 | $66.06 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $161,902 | $77.84 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $176,264 | $84.74 |
Median Salary Position
2.12% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Syracuse
In Syracuse, NY, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $71,704 (2026 est.). At $137,416, the local median is 2.12% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Syracuse: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Syracuse Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Syracuse median: $137,416/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Syracuse Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $142,400 | -3.50% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -2.12% less |
Physician Assistants in Syracuse, NY earn a median of $137,416 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.12% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 3.50% below the New York state average of $142,400.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Syracuse has a cost of living 4.26% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Syracuse, NY has a cost-of-living index of 95.742 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $137,416 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $143,527 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.45% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$115,580
2025 BLS Actual
$133,000
2026 Current Est.
$137,416
2019–2027 Growth
+22.8%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Syracuse (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $115,580 | Actual |
| 2020 | $116,500 | Actual |
| 2021 | $121,010 | Actual |
| 2022 | $121,500 | Actual |
| 2023 | $126,280 | Actual |
| 2024 | $129,720 | Actual |
| 2025 | $133,000 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $137,416 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $141,978 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Syracuse metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 15.1% from $115,580 (2019) to $133,000 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $141,978 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,398 (22.84%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Syracuse metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.32% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $104,560 – $115,315 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $115,315 – $137,416 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $137,416 – $161,902 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $161,902 – $176,264 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Syracuse
The local job market for physician assistants in Syracuse is solid, with about 590 PAs actively contributing to healthcare organizations in the area. The cost of living index, at 95.742, suggests that the purchasing power for residents is slightly below the national average, allowing for comfortable living conditions despite the competitive healthcare environment. Among potential employers, hospital systems generally offer better compensation packages compared to 1099 practices, with surgical specialties such as orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery providing the highest salaries due to their first-assist roles. Factors like case volume, call coverage, and performance metrics, such as RVU productivity bonuses, contribute to the differences in pay. To maximize earnings, aspiring physician assistants in Syracuse should consider specializing in areas with higher demand and actively seek roles that provide opportunities for growth and continued education.
More salary data for Syracuse, NY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $133,000 for physician assistantsin the Syracuse metropolitan area. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071).
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