Jobs, pay and daily life in Buffalo, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Buffalo is a city in New York with 276,854 residents. The median household earns $50,041 a year and the median rent is $1,046 a month, which is 25.1% of the median household income. It is part of the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metropolitan area, where BLS counts 534,550 jobs.
Federal jobs in New York (1,186) →State guide: New YorkCountry guide
There are 1,186 federal postings open in New York (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in New York →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 18,090 | 1.22 | $36,570 | $34,430 | $46,930 | +2% |
| Retail Salespersons | 15,160 | 1.13 | $34,910 | $32,240 | $49,940 | -1% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 14,170 | 1.07 | $34,560 | $32,240 | $36,910 | +11% |
| Registered Nurses | 13,830 | 1.19 | $99,060 | $78,490 | $117,980 | +2% |
| General and Operations Managers | 11,100 | 0.92 | $103,280 | $54,140 | $236,480 | -2% |
| Cashiers | 10,590 | 1.00 | $33,850 | $32,240 | $38,050 | +3% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 9,990 | 1.03 | $37,970 | $32,240 | $55,460 | +2% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 9,850 | 1.10 | $45,520 | $35,360 | $62,800 | +2% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 9,290 | 1.22 | $37,380 | $32,240 | $48,580 | +1% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 7,990 | 1.02 | $46,580 | $32,240 | $86,590 | +32% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 7,900 | 0.78 | $43,130 | $34,200 | $57,730 | +7% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 7,560 | 1.55 | $35,670 | $32,240 | $46,630 | -3% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 6,470 | 1.10 | $46,780 | $35,380 | $62,120 | -2% |
| Office Clerks, General | 6,230 | 0.74 | $46,040 | $32,730 | $60,760 | +2% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 5,980 | 1.14 | $50,620 | $37,470 | $74,490 | +2% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 5,890 | 1.25 | $51,610 | $38,400 | $69,260 | +2% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 5,810 | 1.22 | $76,490 | $48,080 | $106,980 | +20% |
| Nursing Assistants | 5,230 | 1.05 | $39,790 | $37,150 | $48,120 | -6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 4,870 | 1.16 | $44,720 | $36,520 | $61,300 | +1% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 4,870 | 0.98 | $82,120 | $56,550 | $135,370 | -2% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 1,590 | 0.69 | $172,650 | $110,500 | $260,780 | -1% |
| Financial Managers | 2,680 | 0.93 | $164,230 | $98,440 | $296,180 | -1% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 630 | 0.83 | $164,120 | $113,730 | $222,350 | -4% |
| Sales Managers | 1,200 | 0.55 | $163,090 | $86,310 | $291,220 | +10% |
| Human Resources Managers | 590 | 0.78 | $150,180 | $85,030 | $235,770 | +1% |
| Marketing Managers | 1,280 | 0.94 | $144,390 | $79,060 | $256,360 | -13% |
| Pharmacists | 1,400 | 1.26 | $137,900 | $71,200 | $176,560 | -2% |
| Managers, All Other | 900 | 0.42 | $135,910 | $79,620 | $202,260 | -4% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,380 | 0.67 | $132,720 | $82,010 | $287,350 | +7% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,190 | 1.07 | $132,220 | $104,470 | $166,300 | -0% |
| Computer Network Architects | 620 | 1.00 | $131,320 | $78,260 | $165,060 | -2% |
| Lawyers | 2,930 | 1.13 | $130,800 | $72,040 | $225,100 | -18% |
| Software Developers | 3,960 | 0.68 | $127,850 | $79,080 | $172,730 | -6% |
| Physician Assistants | 1,040 | 1.87 | $126,360 | $98,820 | $160,880 | -7% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 970 | 0.86 | $124,990 | $80,440 | $160,410 | +18% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 610 | 0.67 | $122,860 | $70,570 | $220,900 | +8% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 850 | 1.00 | $122,680 | $81,900 | $175,550 | -3% |
| Physicians, All Other | 1,850 | 1.57 | $108,510 | $66,740 | $341,710 | -59% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 730 | 0.49 | $104,700 | $58,940 | $161,600 | -10% |
| General and Operations Managers | 11,100 | 0.92 | $103,280 | $54,140 | $236,480 | -2% |
These figures are for the whole Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $50,790 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.2% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.1% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 10.8% |
| Retail trade | 10.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 10.0% |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 7.1% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 6.0% |
| Other services | 4.6% |
| Public administration | 4.3% |
| Construction | 3.5% |
| Information | 1.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.4% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 62.8% |
| Public transit | 8.1% |
| Walk | 4.5% |
| Work from home | 11.3% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 6.7% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,041 |
| Income per person | $31,843 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,046 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 25.1% |
| Median home value | $164,200 |
| Homeowners | 43.0% |
| Poverty rate | 26.0% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 95.8 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $50,790 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 10.90%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 87.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 31.2% |
| Born abroad | 10.9% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 60.4% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -3.8 | 25 | 64 |
| Feb | -3.6 | 26 | 57 |
| Mar | 0.6 | 33 | 63 |
| Apr | 6.5 | 44 | 81 |
| May | 13.3 | 56 | 85 |
| Jun | 18.9 | 66 | 87 |
| Jul | 22.3 | 72 | 91 |
| Aug | 21.8 | 71 | 79 |
| Sep | 18.1 | 65 | 87 |
| Oct | 11.1 | 52 | 98 |
| Nov | 4.7 | 40 | 75 |
| Dec | -0.6 | 31 | 80 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | NY | 66 mi | 208,772 | $47,213 | $1,081 |
| Syracuse | NY | 138 mi | 146,384 | $47,819 | $1,039 |
| Cleveland | OH | 174 mi | 365,391 | $43,383 | $961 |
| Pittsburgh | PA | 179 mi | 304,759 | $65,742 | $1,261 |
| Akron | OH | 185 mi | 189,247 | $48,076 | $955 |
| Sterling Heights | MI | 213 mi | 133,573 | $79,909 | $1,292 |
| Warren | MI | 213 mi | 137,928 | $64,016 | $1,225 |
| Detroit | MI | 218 mi | 645,702 | $39,209 | $1,091 |
| Allentown | PA | 236 mi | 125,976 | $55,494 | $1,317 |
| Ann Arbor | MI | 251 mi | 122,036 | $82,212 | $1,649 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
276,854 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,046 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 25.1% of the median household income.
$50,041 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.2% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
New York. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.