Technology Buffalo, NY Pop. 278,349

Data Engineer Salary in Buffalo, New York

The median data engineer salary in Buffalo, NY is $127,500 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median and 22.7% below the New York state average.

City Median
$127,500
vs State Avg
$-37,500
vs National
+$2,500
Cost of Living
92%

Data Engineer Pay in Buffalo: What to Expect (2026)

Buffalo offers a median data engineer salary of $127,500, which is $37,500 below the New York state average of $165,000. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Buffalo pays above average for this role.

Buffalo's cost of living is 92% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for data engineers in Buffalo spans from $79,560 at the 10th percentile to $193,800 at the 90th percentile — a $114,240 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $81,600, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $183,600. With a population of 278,349, Buffalo is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Buffalo by Experience

In Buffalo, an entry-level data engineer earns around $81,600, while experienced professionals earn up to $183,600 per year. The local cost of living index is 92% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$81,600
+$1,600 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$129,540
+$2,540 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$183,600
+$3,600 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Buffalo, NY

Percentile Buffalo
10th Percentile $79,560
25th Percentile $102,000
Median (50th) $127,500
75th Percentile $161,160
90th Percentile $193,800

Data Engineer Salary in Other New York Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Buffalo

Education

Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Buffalo and the surrounding New York area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonSQLSparkAirflowAWS/GCPData Modeling

Job Outlook

Nationally, data engineer employment is projected to grow 28% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Buffalo may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Buffalo

Browse open data engineer positions in Buffalo, NY:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Buffalo

How much does a Data Engineer make in Buffalo, NY? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Buffalo, New York is $127,500 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $79,560 (10th percentile) to $193,800 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Buffalo? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $127,500, a data engineer in Buffalo earns approximately $61 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Buffalo compare to the New York state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Buffalo's median data engineer salary of $127,500 is 22.7% below the New York state average of $165,000. The local cost of living index is 92% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Buffalo, NY? ▼
Buffalo has a cost of living index of 92% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $127,500 in Buffalo has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Buffalo? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Buffalo require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, SQL, Spark, Airflow. The job market is projected to grow 28% nationally over the next decade.