Cooks, Short Order Salary in Buffalo, NY
Cooks, Short Order in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $34,730 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,807 take-home, or $2,401 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, short order salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,988
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,153
- Medicare (1.45%)$504
- New York income tax$1,278
- Take-home pay$28,807
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Cooks, Short Order pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| Median (50th) | $34,730 | $16.70 | $28,807 | $2,401 |
| 75th percentile | $38,330 | $18.43 | $31,505 | $2,625 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,230 | $21.75 | $36,677 | $3,056 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,730 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 cooks, short order's $28,807 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,056 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 3.0× the national concentration of cooks, short order jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, short order, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #19 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $50,870 | $43,054 | $38,741 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $44,050 | $36,539 | $35,903 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 | $38,051 | $35,303 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $44,200 | $36,458 | $34,466 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $45,990 | $37,706 | $34,147 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls, SD | $35,570 | $30,760 | $33,940 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $38,490 | $32,235 | $33,900 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $37,830 | $32,576 | $33,815 |
| 19 | Buffalo, NY | $34,730 | $28,807 | $30,056 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Cooks, Short Order salaries elsewhere in New York
- Syracuse, NY — $36,190
- Rochester, NY — $36,580
- Albany, NY — $34,520
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $36,170
- New York, NY — $35,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in Buffalo, NY?
The median cooks, short order salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $34,730 a year, or about $16.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,240 and $38,330.
What is a cooks, short order’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $34,730 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $28,807 a year ($2,401 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,278 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a cooks, short order?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $35,880. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,056 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #19 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, short order 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) — 47% of a median cooks, short order’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,290
- Bartender — $46,920
- Waiter and Waitress — $46,580
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,720
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $41,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,060
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,140
- Dishwasher — $35,080
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,700
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,190
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,860