Physician Assistant Salary in Amherst Town, MA: $139,337 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Amherst Town, MA earns a median $139,337/year (≈ $66.99/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Amherst Town's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 100.2), that paycheck buys what $138,999 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.7% below the Massachusetts state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physician assistants in Amherst Town, Massachusetts, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $139,337, a figure that places them slightly below the national median of $140,391. The salary range for this position varies significantly, with entry-level positions offering around $103,134 and more experienced professionals earning up to $174,322. This data is derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, which highlights the local market's reliance on both surgical and primary care specialties in determining compensation. As physician assistants increasingly take on roles in varying medical fields, understanding these dynamics can help job seekers navigate their options in Amherst Town's competitive healthcare market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $103,134 | $49.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $127,652 | $61.37 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $139,337 | $66.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $170,984 | $82.20 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $174,322 | $83.81 |
Median Salary Position
0.75% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Amherst Town
In Amherst Town, MA, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $71,188 (2026 est.). At $139,337, the local median is 0.75% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Amherst Town: You'd be above the median
How Amherst Town Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Amherst Town median: $139,337/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Amherst Town Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Average | $152,615 | -8.70% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -0.75% less |
Physician Assistants in Amherst Town, MA earn a median of $139,337 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.75% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 8.70% below the Massachusetts state average of $152,615.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Amherst Town has a cost of living 0.24% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Amherst Town, MA has a cost-of-living index of 100.243 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $139,337 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $138,999 — a 0.24% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$111,417
2025 BLS Actual
$134,860
2026 Current Est.
$139,337
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Amherst Town (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $111,417 | Actual |
| 2020 | $114,524 | Actual |
| 2021 | $120,618 | Actual |
| 2022 | $125,064 | Actual |
| 2023 | $129,044 | Actual |
| 2024 | $135,200 | Actual |
| 2025 | $134,860 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $139,337 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $143,963 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Amherst Town metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 21.0% from $111,417 (2019) to $134,860 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $143,963 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,546 (29.21%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Amherst Town 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) | $103,134 – $127,652 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $127,652 – $139,337 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $139,337 – $170,984 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $170,984 – $174,322 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Amherst Town
The local job market reflects a steady demand for the approximately 60 physician assistants currently practicing in the area, providing a solid foundation for prospective candidates. The cost of living index in Amherst Town sits at 100.243, indicating a somewhat higher-than-average expense of living, which can affect take-home pay. Among local employers, surgical specialty practices, particularly in orthopedics and cardiothoracic fields, tend to offer the most competitive salaries, with various incentives such as first-assist case volume and RVU productivity bonuses driving these figures. Conversely, primary care offices generally offer lower compensation, a fact that highlights the specialty-driven pay disparity in this market. For those seeking to maximize their earnings, pursuing roles in high-demand specialties, negotiating contracts that reflect current market rates, and potentially considering locum tenens positions could lead to increased physician assistant pay in Amherst Town, MA.
More salary data for Amherst Town, MA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physician assistants make in Amherst Town, MA in 2026?
Is Amherst Town, MA a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Can physician assistants make $100K in Amherst Town?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physician assistant salary in Amherst Town?
How much does a physician assistant make per hour in Amherst Town?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Massachusetts
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 $134,860 for physician assistantsin the Amherst Town 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, 2-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