Construction Laborer Salary in Buffalo, NY
Construction Laborers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $50,620 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,717 take-home, or $3,393 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$3,894
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,138
- Medicare (1.45%)$734
- New York income tax$2,136
- Take-home pay$40,717
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,060 | $18.30 | $31,303 | $2,609 |
| 25th percentile | $45,180 | $21.72 | $36,639 | $3,053 |
| Median (50th) | $50,620 | $24.34 | $40,717 | $3,393 |
| 75th percentile | $67,970 | $32.68 | $53,574 | $4,464 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,200 | $39.52 | $62,816 | $5,235 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,620 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 construction laborer's $40,717 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,482 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction Laborer jobs are less concentrated in Buffalo, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #114 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 114 | Buffalo, NY | $50,620 | $40,717 | $42,482 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in New York
- Binghamton, NY — $50,740
- New York, NY — $61,270
- Utica, NY — $49,710
- Albany, NY — $52,940
- Syracuse, NY — $49,180
- Rochester, NY — $49,290
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $53,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Buffalo, NY?
The median construction laborer salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $50,620 a year, or about $24.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,180 and $67,970.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $50,620 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $40,717 a year ($3,393 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,136 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,482 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #114 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer 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) — 34% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,190
- Electrician — $77,930
- Construction and Building Inspector — $77,040
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $73,650
- Sheet Metal Worker — $72,580
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $72,230
- Carpenter — $63,500
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,640
- Roofer — $62,590
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $53,340
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $51,210