What this means Our calculation
28 of 34 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $109,350. Prices run 4% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is about the same as most metros (4.1%) and the population is shrinking (-0.8% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Buffalo Government data
All 34 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Lineworker | $109,350 | +13% | $114,092 | 270 | #53 |
| Construction Supervisor | $82,190 | +6% | $85,754 | 1,730 | #107 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $81,060 | +22% | $84,575 | 360 | #64 |
| Electrician | $77,930 | +25% | $81,309 | 2,340 | #73 |
| Building Inspector | $77,040 | +14% | $80,381 | 590 | #81 |
| Brickmason | $76,800 | +22% | $80,130 | 290 | #31 |
| Ironworker | $76,420 | +19% | $79,734 | 210 | #45 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $73,650 | +23% | $76,844 | 950 | #81 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $72,580 | +18% | $75,727 | 440 | #79 |
| Plumber | $72,230 | +18% | $75,362 | 1,430 | #107 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $70,130 | +10% | $73,171 | 1,560 | #116 |
| Carpenter | $63,500 | +13% | $66,253 | 2,440 | #75 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $63,270 | +5% | $66,014 | 1,020 | #101 |
| Concrete Finisher | $62,640 | +9% | $65,356 | 470 | #68 |
| Roofer | $62,590 | +25% | $65,304 | 570 | #34 |
| HVAC Technician | $62,180 | +4% | $64,876 | 1,370 | #124 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $61,080 | -2% | $63,729 | 210 | #195 |
| Machinist | $60,650 | +6% | $63,280 | 1,460 | #81 |
| Glazier | $60,060 | +9% | $62,664 | 160 | #58 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $59,700 | +24% | $62,289 | 350 | #15 |
| Tile Setter | $58,250 | +15% | $60,776 | 110 | #40 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $57,910 | +16% | $60,421 | 250 | #50 |
| Welder | $55,420 | +6% | $57,823 | 970 | #139 |
| Painter | $53,340 | +12% | $55,653 | 750 | #85 |
| Construction Laborer | $50,620 | +8% | $52,815 | 2,790 | #117 |
| Maintenance Technician | $50,620 | +5% | $52,815 | 5,980 | #129 |
| Auto Mechanic | $48,550 | -1% | $50,655 | 2,590 | #216 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $48,390 | -5% | $50,488 | 120 | #92 |
| Insulation Installer | $48,310 | +0% | $50,405 | 140 | #52 |
| Flooring Installer | $47,540 | -15% | $49,601 | 40 | #60 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $47,180 | -9% | $49,226 | 510 | #306 |
| Pest Control Technician | $46,110 | +4% | $48,109 | 150 | #64 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $42,980 | -15% | $44,844 | 110 | #114 |
| Landscaper | $41,770 | +11% | $43,581 | 2,870 | #101 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Buffalo
The Buffalo area has about 543,994 homes. 77% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is older than most; 5% were built in 2010 or later. Older homes often need more repair, replacement and upgrade work. 69% of households own their home, and the median home value is $253,200.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Buffalo Government data
In an average year, Buffalo has 3 days at 90°F or hotter (fewer than most metros; typical metro 33), 124 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 94 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 95 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 78°F and winter nights 21°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Buffalo, NY station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
4.1% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Buffalo area's population shrank 0.8% from 2020 to 2025 (1,164,609 → 1,155,653), ranking #328 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%).
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Buffalo are roughly flat from 2021 to 2025 (1,553 → 1,484). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Buffalo area is 22 minutes each way, shorter than the typical metro (24 min). 7% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 75% drive alone, 2% take transit and 10% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in New York Official source
New York licenses most trades at the city or county level (e.g. New York City). Check with the building or licensing office where you plan to work.
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 21.3% of wage and salary workers in New York were union members, above the U.S. rate of about 10% (#2 of 51 states and D.C.), and 22.5% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in New York.