Data Scientist Salary in Buffalo, NY
Data Scientists in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $102,250 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,770 take-home, or $6,314 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,665
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,340
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,483
- New York income tax$4,993
- Take-home pay$75,770
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Data Scientist pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,940 | $26.89 | $44,704 | $3,725 |
| 25th percentile | $75,320 | $36.21 | $58,347 | $4,862 |
| Median (50th) | $102,250 | $49.16 | $75,770 | $6,314 |
| 75th percentile | $138,980 | $66.82 | $99,099 | $8,258 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,960 | $76.42 | $111,577 | $9,298 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,250 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 data scientist's $75,770 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,056 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Data Scientist jobs are about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #48 of 72 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $123,866 | $111,457 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $185,080 | $122,415 | $110,860 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $127,360 | $98,317 | $100,256 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $132,460 | $97,026 | $99,669 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $113,734 | $98,375 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $127,750 | $98,583 | $95,628 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,680 | $95,118 | $95,611 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $141,760 | $101,803 | $95,264 |
| 48 | Buffalo, NY | $102,250 | $75,770 | $79,056 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 72 metros →
Data Scientist salaries elsewhere in New York
- New York, NY — $135,980
- Albany, NY — $98,940
- Rochester, NY — $92,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Buffalo, NY?
The median data scientist salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $102,250 a year, or about $49.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,320 and $138,980.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $102,250 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $75,770 a year ($6,314 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,993 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,056 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #48 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist 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) — 18% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Computer Network Architect — $131,320
- Software Developer — $127,850
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $104,700
- Computer Systems Analyst — $101,660
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $99,990
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $93,830
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $79,020
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,660