Waiter and Waitress Salary in Buffalo, NY
Waiters and Waitresses in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $46,580 a year — 32% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,689 take-home, or $3,141 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,410
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,888
- Medicare (1.45%)$675
- New York income tax$1,918
- Take-home pay$37,689
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $35,460 | $17.05 | $29,354 | $2,446 |
| Median (50th) | $46,580 | $22.39 | $37,689 | $3,141 |
| 75th percentile | $63,110 | $30.34 | $50,078 | $4,173 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,590 | $41.63 | $65,667 | $5,472 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,580 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 waiter and waitress's $37,689 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,323 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #21 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 21 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in New York
- Binghamton, NY — $46,600
- Syracuse, NY — $47,640
- Utica, NY — $45,950
- Albany, NY — $48,980
- Elmira, NY — $46,160
- Rochester, NY — $45,310
- Glens Falls, NY — $43,900
- Kingston, NY — $46,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Buffalo, NY?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $46,580 a year, or about $22.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,460 and $63,110.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $46,580 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $37,689 a year ($3,141 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,918 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 32% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,323 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #21 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 36% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Chef and Head Cook — $74,290
- Bartender — $46,920
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,720
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $41,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,060
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,140
- Dishwasher — $35,080
- Cooks, Short Order — $34,730
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,700
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,190
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $33,860