Physicists pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $287,500 or more. The middle half of physicists in Buffalo earn between $117,540 and $210,260.
- $82K10th
- $118K25th
- $175KMedian
- $210K75th
- $288K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $181,310 | $15,109 | $87.17 |
| Median | $175,060 | $14,588 | $84.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $117,540 | $9,795 | $56.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $210,260 | $17,522 | $101.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Physicists salary after taxes in Buffalo
On the average salary of $181,310, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $125,361 a year, or $10,447 a month and $4,822 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Buffalo a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Buffalo area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $181,310 buys what about $189,172 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 1.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 2nd of 3 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($191,320).
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Physicists salary in Buffalo: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Buffalo?
$87.17 an hour on average, and $84.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $117,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $125,361 a year ($10,447 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $181,310. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do physicists earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($158,709).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2012; area Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.