Machinist Salary in Buffalo, NY
Machinists in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $60,650 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,234 take-home, or $4,020 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,098
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,760
- Medicare (1.45%)$879
- New York income tax$2,678
- Take-home pay$48,234
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Machinist pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,210 | $19.33 | $32,914 | $2,743 |
| 25th percentile | $47,000 | $22.60 | $38,004 | $3,167 |
| Median (50th) | $60,650 | $29.16 | $48,234 | $4,020 |
| 75th percentile | $74,180 | $35.66 | $57,607 | $4,801 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,400 | $38.65 | $61,647 | $5,137 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,650 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 machinist's $48,234 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,326 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 1.5× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #40 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | $54,812 | $60,379 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $66,990 | $54,334 | $58,678 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | $49,474 | $56,456 |
| 4 | Kingsport, TN | $57,890 | $48,695 | $56,329 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | $61,710 | $50,071 | $56,209 |
| 6 | Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | $48,845 | $56,009 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $56,008 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $59,800 | $50,229 | $55,782 |
| 40 | Buffalo, NY | $60,650 | $48,234 | $50,326 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Machinist salaries elsewhere in New York
- Albany, NY — $63,970
- Syracuse, NY — $58,650
- Rochester, NY — $55,560
- New York, NY — $62,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Buffalo, NY?
The median machinist salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $60,650 a year, or about $29.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,000 and $74,180.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $60,650 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $48,234 a year ($4,020 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,678 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,326 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #40 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist 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) — 28% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,060
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $63,080
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $55,420
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $54,340
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $50,620
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $50,400
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $48,620
- Printing Press Operator — $47,810
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $47,790
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $45,400
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,390
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $44,660