Physician Assistant Salary in Elmira, NY: $142,117 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Elmira, NY earns a median $142,117/year (≈ $68.33/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Elmira's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 94.4), that paycheck buys what $150,551 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% below the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the physician assistant salary in Elmira, NY, is projected to reach a median of $142,117, which is slightly above the national median of $140,391. This salary reflects the influence of the first-assist billing model, particularly prevalent in surgical settings, allowing PAs to command higher compensation when involved in operations. The salary range for physician assistants in this region extends from $87,956 at the 10th percentile to $164,330 at the 90th, indicating significant variances tied to experience and specialty. These insights are derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, highlighting the competitive nature of PA compensation in Elmira and the importance of specialized roles in driving income.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $87,956 | $42.29 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $126,133 | $60.64 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $142,117 | $68.33 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $157,553 | $75.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $164,330 | $79.01 |
Median Salary Position
1.23% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Elmira
In Elmira, NY, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $76,374 (2026 est.). At $142,117, the local median is 1.23% above the national median of $140,391.
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At 40 hours/week in Elmira: You'd be above the median
How Elmira Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Elmira median: $142,117/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Elmira Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $142,401 | -0.20% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | +1.23% more |
Physician Assistants in Elmira, NY earn a median of $142,117 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.23% higher than the national median of $140,391 and 0.20% below the New York state average of $142,401.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Elmira has a cost of living 5.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Elmira, NY has a cost-of-living index of 94.398 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $142,117 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $150,551 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.93% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$113,640
2025 BLS Actual
$137,550
2026 Current Est.
$142,117
2019–2027 Growth
+29.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Elmira (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $113,640 | Actual |
| 2020 | $116,808 | Actual |
| 2021 | $102,510 | Actual |
| 2022 | $109,040 | Actual |
| 2023 | $127,710 | Actual |
| 2024 | $132,850 | Actual |
| 2025 | $137,550 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $142,117 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $146,835 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Elmira metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 21.0% from $113,640 (2019) to $137,550 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $146,835 by 2027 — a total increase of $33,195 (29.21%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Elmira 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) | $87,956 – $126,133 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $126,133 – $142,117 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $142,117 – $157,553 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $157,553 – $164,330 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Elmira
With around 60 physician assistants currently employed in Elmira, the local job market demonstrates a stable demand for these healthcare professionals. The cost of living index in the area stands at 94.398, which is below the national average, thereby enhancing the purchasing power of PA salaries. Surgical specialty practices, particularly those focusing on orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery, tend to offer the highest pay due to the significant case volume and first-assist billing advantages. In contrast, positions in primary care and urgent care clinics generally yield lower compensation. The disparities in earnings can be attributed to factors such as the volume of procedures, on-call responsibilities, and whether the PA is employed by a hospital system or working through 1099 arrangements. For those seeking to maximize their physician assistant pay in Elmira, pursuing specialized training and certifications, along with negotiating for RVU productivity bonuses where applicable, can significantly enhance earning potential.
More salary data for Elmira, 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 $137,550 for physician assistantsin the Elmira 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, 5-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