Civil Engineer Salary in Buffalo, NY
Civil Engineers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $97,060 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,425 take-home, or $6,035 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,523
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,018
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,407
- New York income tax$4,686
- Take-home pay$72,425
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,020 | $34.63 | $56,204 | $4,684 |
| 25th percentile | $80,500 | $38.70 | $61,712 | $5,143 |
| Median (50th) | $97,060 | $46.66 | $72,425 | $6,035 |
| 75th percentile | $127,820 | $61.45 | $92,130 | $7,677 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,300 | $72.26 | $106,169 | $8,847 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $97,060 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 civil engineer's $72,425 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,566 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Buffalo, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #73 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | $94,214 | $94,139 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | $84,938 | $93,565 |
| 3 | Mobile, AL | $107,810 | $79,549 | $90,296 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $108,240 | $82,116 | $88,681 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $99,700 | $78,969 | $87,132 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $102,080 | $76,595 | $85,856 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $95,510 | $76,021 | $84,425 |
| 73 | Buffalo, NY | $97,060 | $72,425 | $75,566 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Civil Engineer salaries elsewhere in New York
- Syracuse, NY — $102,330
- Albany, NY — $102,470
- Rochester, NY — $99,460
- New York, NY — $107,330
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Buffalo, NY?
The median civil engineer salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $97,060 a year, or about $46.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,500 and $127,820.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $97,060 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $72,425 a year ($6,035 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,686 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,566 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #73 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer 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) — 19% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Industrial Engineer — $101,260
- Electrical Engineer — $98,180
- Mechanical Engineer — $97,200
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $78,100