Registered Nurse Salary in Buffalo, NY
Registered Nurses in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $99,060 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,714 take-home, or $6,143 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,963
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,142
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,436
- New York income tax$4,804
- Take-home pay$73,714
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,490 | $37.74 | $60,406 | $5,034 |
| 25th percentile | $85,350 | $41.03 | $64,862 | $5,405 |
| Median (50th) | $99,060 | $47.63 | $73,714 | $6,143 |
| 75th percentile | $108,560 | $52.19 | $79,837 | $6,653 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,980 | $56.72 | $85,908 | $7,159 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,060 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 registered nurse's $73,714 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,911 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #86 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 86 | Buffalo, NY | $99,060 | $73,714 | $76,911 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in New York
- Watertown, NY — $96,070
- Binghamton, NY — $101,720
- Glens Falls, NY — $104,000
- New York, NY — $119,720
- Utica, NY — $94,300
- Albany, NY — $99,970
- Kingston, NY — $101,030
- Ithaca, NY — $100,320
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Buffalo, NY?
The median registered nurse salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $99,060 a year, or about $47.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,350 and $108,560.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $99,060 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $73,714 a year ($6,143 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,804 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,911 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #86 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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 registered nurse’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
- 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