Home Health and Personal Care Aide Salary in Buffalo, NY
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $36,570 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,186 take-home, or $2,516 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median home health and personal care aide salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,208
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,267
- Medicare (1.45%)$530
- New York income tax$1,378
- Take-home pay$30,186
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Home Health and Personal Care Aide pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,430 | $16.55 | $28,582 | $2,382 |
| 25th percentile | $35,590 | $17.11 | $29,452 | $2,454 |
| Median (50th) | $36,570 | $17.58 | $30,186 | $2,516 |
| 75th percentile | $38,220 | $18.38 | $31,423 | $2,619 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,930 | $22.56 | $37,951 | $3,163 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,570 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median home health and personal care aide's $30,186 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,495 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Buffalo, NY has 1.2× the national concentration of home health and personal care aide jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for home health and personal care aides, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #51 of 180 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grants Pass, OR | $53,120 | $41,044 | $41,984 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $47,810 | $40,595 | $40,563 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $47,410 | $40,274 | $40,135 |
| 4 | Yakima, WA | $44,490 | $37,928 | $39,696 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,210 | $40,917 | $36,818 |
| 6 | Bellingham, WA | $44,080 | $37,598 | $36,385 |
| 7 | Olympia, WA | $44,060 | $37,582 | $36,252 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $37,910 | $32,641 | $35,920 |
| 51 | Buffalo, NY | $36,570 | $30,186 | $31,495 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 180 metros →
About the job: home health and personal care aides
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +18.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Home Health and Personal Care Aide salaries elsewhere in New York
- Binghamton, NY — $38,210
- Utica, NY — $37,420
- Syracuse, NY — $37,440
- Albany, NY — $37,590
- Rochester, NY — $35,600
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $39,040
- New York, NY — $39,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home health and personal care aide make in Buffalo, NY?
The median home health and personal care aide salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $36,570 a year, or about $17.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,590 and $38,220.
What is a home health and personal care aide’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $36,570 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $30,186 a year ($2,516 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,378 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a home health and personal care aide?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,800. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,495 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #51 of 180 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a home health and personal care aide afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median home health and personal care aide’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Nursing Assistant — $39,790