SOC 21-1093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Social and Human Service Assistants — Buffalo
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Buffalo, NY is $44,340 per year, close to the national median of $45,930 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Buffalo, NY is $44,340 per year, close to the national median of $45,930 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $32,240 at the tenth percentile to more than $60,670 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,780 to $49,580.
Employment stands at 2,280, or 4.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Ithaca leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $53,550. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 472nd of 586 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,240 | −29.8% |
| 25th | $36,780 | −19.9% |
| Median (50th) | $44,340 | −3.5% |
| 75th | $49,580 | +7.9% |
| 90th | $60,670 | +32.1% |
| Mean | $45,530 | −0.9% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ithaca | $53,550 | 310 | |
| 2 | New York | $47,860 | 35,540 | |
| 3 | Elmira | $47,850 | 180 | |
| 4 | Kiryas Joel | $47,760 | 1,270 | |
| 5 | Syracuse | $47,330 | 2,390 | |
| 6 | Kingston | $47,290 | 470 | |
| 7 | Albany | $45,490 | 2,100 | |
| 8 | Rochester | $44,800 | 2,630 | |
| 9 | Glens Falls | $43,940 | 230 | |
| 10 | Binghamton | $43,550 | 540 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Buffalo run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $44,340 buys what $41,094 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,340as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,094US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,340 a year, 3.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,240 to $60,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,280 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Ithaca, at $53,550.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Buffalo, NY?
The median annual wage is $44,340, or $21.32 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $45,930, so pay in Buffalo, NY is 3.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Buffalo, NY earns more than $60,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,240 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Ithaca, at $53,550 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,280 jobs in this occupation in Buffalo, NY. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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