Mechanical Engineer salary in Buffalo, NY
Based on 32 certified H-1B filings in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Tonawanda, North Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Williamsville.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,737 |
| 25th | $84,123 |
| 50th (median) | $108,279 |
| 75th | $127,498 |
| 90th | $143,995 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $86,081 | $73,990 | $98,070 | 22 |
| FY2021 | $88,571 | $69,563 | $99,084 | 24 |
| FY2022 | $82,160 | $78,580 | $97,528 | 15 |
| FY2023 | $104,063 | $84,000 | $113,500 | 12 |
| FY2024 | $80,808 | $76,066 | $105,248 | 21 |
| FY2025 | $94,560 | $78,284 | $114,479 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $130,000 | $110,000 | $140,455 | 12 |
Cost of living
Buffalo's median Mechanical Engineer salary of $108,279 is worth about $113,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Buffalo = 95.8).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Buffalo, NY area earned a median of $97,200 in May 2025 (780 employed). The H-1B median here is $108,279, 11% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla | $107,182 | 10 |
| Solstice Advanced Materials | too few | 4 |
| Aquasol | too few | 2 |
| Linde Engineering North America | too few | 2 |
| Niagara Transformer | too few | 2 |
| Stark Tech Operating Company | 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 | $74,000 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 6 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 3 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $68,016 | $74,000 | 11 |
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.