Lawyers Salary in Buffalo, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Median annual salary $111,570 -26.2% vs national
Median hourly $53.64
10th percentile $63,690
90th percentile $215,260
Employed locally 2,710
National median $151,160

Compare Lawyers salary & buying power

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Lawyers
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Buffalo, NY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $63,690
    25th
    $81,800
    50th (median)
    $111,570
    75th
    $163,180
    90th
    $215,260

    Buffalo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,572 2023 • Census ACS
    Lawyers salary vs area income 158% Median Lawyers salary is 58% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Lawyers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $301,320
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $215,090
    Midland, MI $209,430
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $205,900
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $203,450
    California $197,790

    Nearby metros — Lawyers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $301,320
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $203,450
    Rochester, NY $138,010
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $129,870
    Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $129,750
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $123,590

    Related occupations in Buffalo, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,550
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$169,710
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$48,470
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$59,540
    Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators$75,200
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$114,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Lawyers make per hour in Buffalo?

    The median hourly wage for Lawyers in Buffalo, NY is $53.64, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $108.22 or more per hour.

    Is Buffalo above or below average for Lawyers salaries?

    The median Lawyers salary in Buffalo, NY is 26.2% below the national median of $151,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Lawyers in Buffalo?

    Entry-level Lawyers (10th percentile) earn around $63,690 per year in Buffalo, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $81,800.