Waiters and Waitresses salary
in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
- Middle 50%
- $35,460–$63,110
- vs U.S. median
- +32%
- Metro rank
- #36 of 528
Waiters and Waitresses in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro earn a median of $46,580 a year, based on BLS estimates for 7,990 jobs (May 2025). That is 32% above the U.S. median of $35,230 and 1% below the NY statewide median of $47,020. It ranks #36 of 528 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE7,990 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
Were you outpaid?
Your salary is ranked in your browser and never uploaded.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in other NY metros
8 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $48,980 |
| Syracuse, NY | $47,640 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $47,610 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $46,950 |
| Binghamton, NY | $46,600 |
| Kingston, NY | $46,440 |
| Elmira, NY | $46,160 |
| Ithaca, NY | $46,090 |
Turn your result into a raise plan.
Run the free check first for Waiters and Waitresses. If you want to act on it, the Dossier turns your result into a target number (the 75th percentile for your job and metro), the employers that report paying more (where filing data exists), a raise or counter-offer script filled in with your numbers, and a one-page summary for your manager.
- ✓ Built from BLS and DOL data
- ✓ PDF generated in your browser
- ✓ 7-day money-back guarantee
RELATED JOBS IN BUFFALO
Questions
What is the average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Buffalo?
The BLS median is $46,580 a year (May 2025). Half of the 7,990 jobs pay between $35,460 and $63,110. The 10th percentile is $32,240 and the 90th is $86,590.
Is Buffalo a high-paying metro for Waiters and Waitresses?
That is 32% above the U.S. median of $35,230 and 1% below the NY statewide median of $47,020. It ranks #36 of 528 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Waiters and Waitresses make an hour in Buffalo?
About $22.39 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $46,580 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $17.05–$30.34 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.