Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Buffalo, NY
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $51,210 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,159 take-home, or $3,430 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median highway maintenance worker salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,965
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,175
- Medicare (1.45%)$743
- New York income tax$2,168
- Take-home pay$41,159
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,330 | $20.35 | $34,503 | $2,875 |
| 25th percentile | $48,280 | $23.21 | $38,963 | $3,247 |
| Median (50th) | $51,210 | $24.62 | $41,159 | $3,430 |
| 75th percentile | $62,980 | $30.28 | $49,981 | $4,165 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,980 | $33.64 | $54,879 | $4,573 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,210 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 highway maintenance worker's $41,159 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,944 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 2.4× the national concentration of highway maintenance worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #27 of 49 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $76,220 | $58,823 | $56,781 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $75,030 | $61,614 | $55,441 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $60,900 | $49,451 | $53,926 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $63,530 | $51,212 | $52,640 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $66,310 | $53,388 | $51,961 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,660 | $49,032 | $50,582 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,650 | $50,518 | $48,194 |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $58,470 | $46,600 | $48,024 |
| 27 | Buffalo, NY | $51,210 | $41,159 | $42,944 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 49 metros →
Highway Maintenance Worker salaries elsewhere in New York
- Rochester, NY — $58,470
- Syracuse, NY — $55,210
- Albany, NY — $55,740
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $60,100
- Utica, NY — $49,850
- New York, NY — $60,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in Buffalo, NY?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $51,210 a year, or about $24.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,280 and $62,980.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $51,210 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $41,159 a year ($3,430 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,168 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,944 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #27 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance worker 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) — 33% of a median highway maintenance worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,190
- Electrician — $77,930
- Construction and Building Inspector — $77,040
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $73,650
- Sheet Metal Worker — $72,580
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $72,230
- Carpenter — $63,500
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,640
- Roofer — $62,590
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $53,340
- Construction Laborer — $50,620