How much does a lawyer make in Buffalo?
$130,800a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area. That is $62.88 an hour or $10,900 a month.
- Hourly
- $62.88
- Vs. national median
- -18%
- Rank among cities
- 114 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 2,930
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $72,040Median: $130,800Highest 10%: $225,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $72,040 | $34.63 | |
| 25th | $95,490 | $45.91 | |
| Median | $130,800 | $62.88 | |
| 75th | $168,600 | $81.04 | |
| 90th | $225,100 | $108.22 |
Other cities in New York
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| New York, NY | $208,900 |
| Rochester, NY | $148,200 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $138,600 |
| Watertown, NY | $137,000 |
| Ithaca, NY | $135,600 |
| Albany, NY | $131,300 |
| Utica, NY | $130,100 |
| Binghamton, NY | $129,500 |
| Syracuse, NY | $128,900 |
| Elmira, NY | $126,900 |
| Kingston, NY | $115,300 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $109,200 |
Related jobs in Buffalo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Judge | $174,300 |
| Administrative Law Judge | $117,500 |
| Arbitrator | $75,200 |
| Legal Support Worker | $62,550 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $58,270 |
| Title Examiner | $57,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in Buffalo?
The median hourly pay in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $62.88 ($130,800 a year).
Do lawyers make more in Buffalo than the national average?
No: $130,800 against $159,700 nationally, 18% less.
How does Buffalo compare with the rest of New York?
The median in New York is $207,900, so Buffalo pays 37% less.
Where does Buffalo rank for lawyer pay?
114 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $72,040 or less a year; the top 10% make $225,100 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.