Respiratory Therapist Salary in Buffalo, NY
Respiratory Therapists in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $86,720 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,752 take-home, or $5,479 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median respiratory therapist salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,248
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,377
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,257
- New York income tax$4,086
- Take-home pay$65,752
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Respiratory Therapist pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,040 | $35.12 | $56,866 | $4,739 |
| 25th percentile | $83,880 | $40.33 | $63,907 | $5,326 |
| Median (50th) | $86,720 | $41.69 | $65,752 | $5,479 |
| 75th percentile | $96,480 | $46.38 | $72,052 | $6,004 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,020 | $49.05 | $75,622 | $6,302 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $86,720 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 respiratory therapist's $65,752 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,603 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Respiratory Therapist jobs are about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for respiratory therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #16 of 61 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $149,680 | $101,936 | $92,314 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $134,430 | $93,129 | $87,306 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $130,220 | $90,698 | $78,449 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $104,220 | $82,149 | $73,919 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $110,490 | $81,081 | $72,032 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $95,520 | $71,694 | $71,652 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $104,580 | $77,393 | $71,484 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $100,920 | $74,488 | $71,061 |
| 16 | Buffalo, NY | $86,720 | $65,752 | $68,603 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 61 metros →
Respiratory Therapist salaries elsewhere in New York
- New York, NY — $110,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Buffalo, NY?
The median respiratory therapist salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $86,720 a year, or about $41.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,880 and $96,480.
What is a respiratory therapist’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $86,720 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $65,752 a year ($5,479 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,086 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a respiratory therapist?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $82,280. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,603 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #16 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a respiratory 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) — 21% of a median respiratory 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
- Physical Therapist — $95,800
- 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