Data Scientists salary in Buffalo, NY
Median pay for data scientists in Buffalo, NY: $97,770/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $54,470 – $163,220 · about 450 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($93,540) by +$4,230 (+5%).
What it's really worth in Buffalo
With Buffalo's cost of living at 95 (US=100), that $97,770 has the buying power of about $103,001 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $67,638 · median home $288,316 · median rent $1,444/mo.
How Buffalo ranks for this job
On raw pay, Buffalo, NY is 72nd of the 171 metros we hold data scientists wages for. Once Buffalo's cost of living is applied, it ranks 61st.
Pay and living costs are roughly in step here, so Buffalo sits in much the same place whether you look at raw salary or spending power.
What that salary buys in Buffalo
A median home in Buffalo, NY costs $288,316 — about 2.9× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,444/mo works out at 18% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where data scientists earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Buffalo.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Buffalo | Rent vs Buffalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $171,800 | +76% | 2.5× |
| San Francisco, CA | $163,430 | +67% | 2.3× |
| Seattle, WA | $135,610 | +39% | 1.5× |
| Washington, DC | $135,080 | +38% | 1.7× |
Same job elsewhere in NY
| Metro | Median pay | vs Buffalo | Rent vs Buffalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $133,560 | +37% | 2.4× |
| Albany, NY | $99,250 | +2% | 1.2× |
| Binghamton, NY | $91,610 | −6% | 0.9× |
| Syracuse, NY | $90,630 | −7% | 1.1× |
Staying in NY keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires data scientists around Buffalo
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Kaleida Health · Healthcare
- Catholic Health · Healthcare
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center · Healthcare
Other jobs in Buffalo
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 171 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.