Retail Salespersons pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,940 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in Buffalo earn between $33,260 and $38,000.
- $32K10th
- $33K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,370 | $3,281 | $18.93 |
| Median | $34,910 | $2,909 | $16.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,260 | $2,772 | $15.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in Buffalo vs. New York and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in Buffalo earn 8% less than the New York average ($42,580) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($37,310). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $39,370 | $34,910 | $32,240 | $49,940 | 15,160 |
| New York | $42,580 | $37,720 | $33,650 | $58,630 | 238,540 |
| United States | $37,310 | $35,410 | $27,210 | $47,890 | 3,897,860 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Retail Salespersons salary after taxes in Buffalo
On the average salary of $39,370, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $32,253 a year, or $2,688 a month and $1,241 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 retail salespersons? 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 $39,370 buys what about $41,077 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 7th of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($43,950).
- New York$43,950
- Kingston$40,180
- Kiryas Joel$40,150
- Albany$39,590
- Glens Falls$39,510
- Syracuse$39,480
- Buffalo$39,370
- Rochester$39,340
- Binghamton$38,780
- Watertown$38,780
Highest-paying cities for retail salespersons
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,420).
- San Jose, CA$47,420
- San Francisco, CA$47,290
- Napa, CA$45,630
- Seattle, WA$45,020
- Mount Vernon, WA$44,690
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Retail Salespersons salary in Buffalo: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in Buffalo?
$18.93 an hour on average, and $16.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $32,253 a year ($2,688 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,370. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do retail salespersons earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($37,310).
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 41-2031; area Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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