Expert Software Engineer salary in Buffalo, NY
Based on 59 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Getzville, Williamsville, Niagara Falls, Amherst, Cheektowaga.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $143,666 |
| 25th | $146,557 |
| 50th (median) | $147,118 |
| 75th | $159,408 |
| 90th | $187,384 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $107,896 | $105,123 | $124,025 | 40 |
| FY2021 | $110,000 | $105,165 | $123,177 | 39 |
| FY2022 | $116,771 | $110,000 | $126,072 | 57 |
| FY2023 | $132,300 | $119,832 | $143,416 | 29 |
| FY2024 | $140,488 | $129,418 | $143,666 | 40 |
| FY2025 | $145,995 | $143,666 | $159,016 | 29 |
| FY2026 | $147,118 | $147,118 | $158,927 | 30 |
Cost of living
Buffalo's median expert Software Engineer salary of $147,118 is worth about $153,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Buffalo = 95.8).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Buffalo, NY area earned a median of $127,850 in May 2025 (3,960 employed). The H-1B median here is $147,118, 15% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| M&T Bank | $147,118 | 27 |
| HSBC Technology & Services (USA) | too few | 6 |
| EY | too few | 3 |
| Government Employee Insurance Company (GEICO) | too few | 2 |
| Lifetime Workforce Solutions | too few | 2 |
| Sodexo | 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 | $84,750 | 52 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $102,461 | 134 |
| Senior · Level III | $128,705 | 100 |
| Expert · Level IV | $147,118 | 59 |
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 | $75,920 | $84,750 | 52 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,509 | $102,461 | 134 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,800 | $128,705 | 100 |
| Expert · Level IV | $147,118 | $147,118 | 59 |
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.