Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,590 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Buffalo earn between $35,460 and $63,110.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $47KMedian
- $63K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,310 | $4,526 | $26.11 |
| Median | $46,580 | $3,882 | $22.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,460 | $2,955 | $17.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,110 | $5,259 | $30.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Buffalo vs. New York and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Buffalo earn about the same as the New York average ($54,750) and 36% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $54,310 | $46,580 | $32,240 | $86,590 | 7,990 |
| New York | $54,750 | $47,020 | $33,540 | $83,210 | 142,940 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Buffalo
On the average salary of $54,310, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $43,436 a year, or $3,620 a month and $1,671 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Buffalo a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Buffalo area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $54,310 buys what about $56,665 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 3rd of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($55,000).
- New York$55,000
- Albany$54,580
- Buffalo$54,310
- Syracuse$53,270
- Kiryas Joel$53,260
- Ithaca$51,830
- Binghamton$51,750
- Rochester$51,280
- Kingston$51,190
- Elmira$49,940
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Buffalo: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Buffalo?
$26.11 an hour on average, and $22.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $43,436 a year ($3,620 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,310. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% more than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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