SOC 21-1029 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Social Workers, All Other — Buffalo
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Buffalo, NY comes to $80,850 a year, ahead of the national median of $71,900 by 12.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Buffalo, NY comes to $80,850 a year, ahead of the national median of $71,900 by 12.4%. Pay ranges from under $54,840 at the tenth percentile to more than $101,940 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $59,520 to $92,770.
Employment stands at 210, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Binghamton records the highest median at $91,370. Of the 586 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 165th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,840 | −23.7% |
| 25th | $59,520 | −17.2% |
| Median (50th) | $80,850 | +12.4% |
| 75th | $92,770 | +29.0% |
| 90th | $101,940 | +41.8% |
| Mean | $78,930 | +9.8% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Binghamton | $91,370 | 40 | |
| 2 | Syracuse | $91,370 | 120 | |
| 3 | New York | $85,080 | 1,440 | |
| 4 | Albany | $83,910 | 320 | |
| 5 | Rochester | $81,890 | 220 | |
| 6 | Kiryas Joel | $81,710 | 80 | |
| 7 | Ithaca | $79,940 | 80 | |
| 8 | Utica | $79,420 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Buffalo run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $80,850 buys what $74,930 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$74,930US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,850 a year, 12.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $54,840 to $101,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Binghamton, at $91,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Social Workers, All Other in Buffalo, NY?
The median annual wage is $80,850, or $38.87 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 $71,900, so pay in Buffalo, NY is 12.4% higher. 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 $101,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $54,840 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 Binghamton, at $91,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 210 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.
Explore related data