Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Buffalo, NY
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $59,440 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,327 take-home, or $3,944 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,953
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,685
- Medicare (1.45%)$862
- New York income tax$2,613
- Take-home pay$47,327
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,440 | $22.33 | $37,584 | $3,132 |
| 25th percentile | $50,320 | $24.19 | $40,492 | $3,374 |
| Median (50th) | $59,440 | $28.58 | $47,327 | $3,944 |
| 75th percentile | $66,160 | $31.81 | $52,364 | $4,364 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,580 | $37.78 | $60,465 | $5,039 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,440 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 heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $47,327 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,379 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver jobs are less concentrated in Buffalo, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #54 of 134 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln, NE | $81,790 | $63,527 | $69,367 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $63,070 | $52,857 | $57,341 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls, SD | $60,820 | $51,049 | $56,326 |
| 4 | Iowa City, IA | $61,960 | $50,262 | $54,926 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $60,410 | $49,841 | $54,497 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $58,900 | $49,506 | $54,480 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,900 | $47,920 | $53,865 |
| 8 | Youngstown, OH | $56,810 | $47,047 | $53,833 |
| 54 | Buffalo, NY | $59,440 | $47,327 | $49,379 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 134 metros →
About the job: heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers’ license.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in New York
- Syracuse, NY — $61,330
- Albany, NY — $60,720
- Rochester, NY — $58,920
- New York, NY — $65,040
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $62,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Buffalo, NY?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $59,440 a year, or about $28.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,320 and $66,160.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $59,440 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $47,327 a year ($3,944 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,613 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,379 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #54 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver 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) — 29% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
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- Light Truck Driver — $42,640
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