Pharmacist Salary in Buffalo, NY
Pharmacists in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $137,900 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $98,425 take-home, or $8,202 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,830
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,550
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,000
- New York income tax$7,096
- Take-home pay$98,425
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.90% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,200 | $34.23 | $55,671 | $4,639 |
| 25th percentile | $123,620 | $59.43 | $89,507 | $7,459 |
| Median (50th) | $137,900 | $66.30 | $98,425 | $8,202 |
| 75th percentile | $160,410 | $77.12 | $112,482 | $9,374 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $176,560 | $84.88 | $122,568 | $10,214 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $137,900 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 pharmacist's $98,425 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,693 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 1.3× the national concentration of pharmacist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #88 of 120 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, MN | $164,250 | $113,470 | $124,938 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls, SD | $148,330 | $112,650 | $124,295 |
| 3 | McAllen, TX | $137,700 | $105,384 | $122,689 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $150,500 | $114,133 | $120,500 |
| 5 | Shreveport, LA | $137,970 | $101,816 | $120,114 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $199,040 | $131,343 | $118,945 |
| 7 | Spartanburg, SC | $153,610 | $108,199 | $118,833 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $142,040 | $106,840 | $117,573 |
| 88 | Buffalo, NY | $137,900 | $98,425 | $102,693 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 120 metros →
Pharmacist salaries elsewhere in New York
- Syracuse, NY — $149,510
- Rochester, NY — $136,310
- Albany, NY — $136,720
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $140,080
- New York, NY — $141,320
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Buffalo, NY?
The median pharmacist salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $137,900 a year, or about $66.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $123,620 and $160,410.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $137,900 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $98,425 a year ($8,202 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,096 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,693 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #88 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist 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) — 14% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Nurse Practitioner — $132,220
- Physician Assistant — $126,360
- Physicians, All Other — $108,510
- Registered Nurse — $99,060
- Physical Therapist — $95,800
- Respiratory Therapist — $86,720
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $83,090
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $82,890
- Dental Hygienist — $82,470
- Occupational Therapist — $81,560
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $78,050
- Surgical Technologist — $77,440