How much does a food server make in Buffalo?
$34,190a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area. That is $16.44 an hour or $2,849 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.44
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 145 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 1,380
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $32,240Median: $34,190Highest 10%: $42,570
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,240 | $15.50 | |
| 25th | $32,240 | $15.50 | |
| Median | $34,190 | $16.44 | |
| 75th | $37,140 | $17.86 | |
| 90th | $42,570 | $20.47 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Ithaca, NY | $40,240 |
| New York, NY | $39,120 |
| Syracuse, NY | $36,770 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $36,160 |
| Binghamton, NY | $36,060 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $36,030 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,780 |
| Albany, NY | $35,550 |
| Kingston, NY | $34,980 |
| Utica, NY | $34,430 |
Related jobs in Buffalo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $74,290 |
| Bartender | $46,920 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $46,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,720 |
| Cook | $41,860 |
| Cook | $38,580 |
| Cook | $38,060 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $35,140 |
| Dishwasher | $35,080 |
| Cook | $34,730 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Buffalo?
The median hourly pay in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $16.44 ($34,190 a year).
Do food servers make more in Buffalo than the national average?
No: $34,190 against $35,360 nationally, 3% less.
How does Buffalo compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $39,370, so Buffalo pays 13% less.
Where does Buffalo rank for food server pay?
145 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $32,240 or less a year; the top 10% make $42,570 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.