Physical Therapist Salary in Buffalo, NY
Physical Therapists in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $95,800 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $71,613 take-home, or $5,968 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$12,246
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,940
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,389
- New York income tax$4,612
- Take-home pay$71,613
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Physical Therapist pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,210 | $31.83 | $52,401 | $4,367 |
| 25th percentile | $77,160 | $37.10 | $59,542 | $4,962 |
| Median (50th) | $95,800 | $46.06 | $71,613 | $5,968 |
| 75th percentile | $104,940 | $50.45 | $77,504 | $6,459 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $116,420 | $55.97 | $84,903 | $7,075 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,800 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 physical therapist's $71,613 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,719 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 physical therapist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #84 of 104 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | $103,980 | $81,980 | $95,442 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $116,480 | $90,774 | $90,579 |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | $102,190 | $80,721 | $89,777 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $106,010 | $83,408 | $88,061 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $104,750 | $80,423 | $87,938 |
| 6 | Jackson, MS | $103,000 | $77,903 | $87,484 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $139,000 | $95,768 | $86,728 |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | $100,000 | $79,180 | $85,898 |
| 84 | Buffalo, NY | $95,800 | $71,613 | $74,719 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 104 metros →
Physical Therapist salaries elsewhere in New York
- Syracuse, NY — $92,080
- Albany, NY — $94,020
- New York, NY — $107,650
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $97,110
- Rochester, NY — $83,070
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in Buffalo, NY?
The median physical therapist salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $95,800 a year, or about $46.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,160 and $104,940.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $95,800 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $71,613 a year ($5,968 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,612 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,719 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #84 of 104 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist 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) — 19% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Pharmacist — $137,900
- Nurse Practitioner — $132,220
- Physician Assistant — $126,360
- Physicians, All Other — $108,510
- Registered Nurse — $99,060
- 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