Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Buffalo, NY
Based on 98 certified H-1B filings in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Williamsville, Cheektowaga, Lockport, East Amherst, East Aurora.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $74,714 |
| 25th | $84,968 |
| 50th (median) | $95,261 |
| 75th | $123,106 |
| 90th | $140,120 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $87,797 | $71,614 | $97,630 | 89 |
| FY2021 | $89,877 | $72,000 | $110,240 | 77 |
| FY2022 | $93,142 | $77,022 | $114,809 | 82 |
| FY2023 | $96,380 | $78,567 | $127,570 | 50 |
| FY2024 | $92,747 | $78,448 | $116,239 | 67 |
| FY2025 | $93,621 | $74,714 | $118,461 | 61 |
| FY2026 | $100,000 | $84,968 | $123,510 | 37 |
Cost of living
Buffalo's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $95,261 is worth about $99,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Buffalo = 95.8).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Buffalo, NY area earned a median of $104,700 in May 2025 (730 employed). The H-1B median here is $95,261, 9% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $84,968 | 30 |
| Ingram Micro | too few | 6 |
| Yahoo Holdings | too few | 6 |
| M&T Bank | too few | 5 |
| Slk America | too few | 4 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | too few | 4 |
| HSBC Technology & Services (USA) | too few | 3 |
| IBM | too few | 2 |
| Infosys | too few | 2 |
| Wipro | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 4 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $84,968 | 41 |
| Senior · Level III | $96,811 | 22 |
| Expert · Level IV | $123,510 | 30 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $84,968 | $84,968 | 41 |
| Senior · Level III | $93,621 | $96,811 | 22 |
| Expert · Level IV | $112,507 | $123,510 | 30 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.