Cost Estimator Salary in Buffalo, NY
Cost Estimators in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $75,300 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,334 take-home, or $4,861 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,736
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,669
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,092
- New York income tax$3,469
- Take-home pay$58,334
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,570 | $23.35 | $39,180 | $3,265 |
| 25th percentile | $60,170 | $28.93 | $47,874 | $3,990 |
| Median (50th) | $75,300 | $36.20 | $58,334 | $4,861 |
| 75th percentile | $94,100 | $45.24 | $70,518 | $5,876 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,910 | $59.09 | $89,064 | $7,422 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,300 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 cost estimator's $58,334 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,864 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cost Estimator jobs are about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #66 of 90 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $84,710 | $66,268 | $72,999 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $102,640 | $76,125 | $70,313 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $81,170 | $63,884 | $68,992 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $76,130 | $62,387 | $68,837 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $81,300 | $66,025 | $68,534 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $76,660 | $62,760 | $68,085 |
| 7 | Dayton, OH | $79,020 | $63,030 | $67,998 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $92,570 | $69,544 | $67,833 |
| 66 | Buffalo, NY | $75,300 | $58,334 | $60,864 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 90 metros →
Cost Estimator salaries elsewhere in New York
- Rochester, NY — $78,890
- Albany, NY — $81,290
- New York, NY — $82,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Buffalo, NY?
The median cost estimator salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $75,300 a year, or about $36.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,170 and $94,100.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $75,300 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $58,334 a year ($4,861 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,469 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,864 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #66 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator 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) — 23% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Personal Financial Advisor — $103,650
- Project Management Specialist — $101,180
- Credit Analyst — $99,640
- Financial Risk Specialist — $96,980
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $96,490
- Labor Relations Specialist — $95,740
- Management Analyst — $84,710
- Compliance Officer — $82,450
- Accountant and Auditor — $82,120
- Logistician — $79,060
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $78,810
- Financial Examiner — $77,100