Dishwasher Salary in Buffalo, NY
Dishwashers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $35,080 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,069 take-home, or $2,422 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$2,030
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,175
- Medicare (1.45%)$509
- New York income tax$1,297
- Take-home pay$29,069
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Dishwasher 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) | $35,080 | $16.87 | $29,069 | $2,422 |
| 75th percentile | $36,400 | $17.50 | $30,059 | $2,505 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,990 | $18.26 | $31,251 | $2,604 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,080 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 dishwasher's $29,069 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,330 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dishwasher jobs are about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #15 of 156 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $45,930 | $37,094 | $33,909 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $42,750 | $36,530 | $32,870 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $43,960 | $36,183 | $32,767 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $34,800 | $29,444 | $31,816 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $37,110 | $31,417 | $31,780 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $36,330 | $31,371 | $31,263 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $33,810 | $28,688 | $31,212 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $35,360 | $30,592 | $31,195 |
| 15 | Buffalo, NY | $35,080 | $29,069 | $30,330 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 156 metros →
Dishwasher salaries elsewhere in New York
- Syracuse, NY — $34,530
- Rochester, NY — $33,880
- Albany, NY — $34,580
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $36,410
- New York, NY — $35,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Buffalo, NY?
The median dishwasher salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $35,080 a year, or about $16.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,240 and $36,400.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $35,080 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $29,069 a year ($2,422 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,297 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,330 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #15 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher 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 dishwasher’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
- Cooks, Short Order — $34,730
- 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