NY · Buffalo · Updated October 15, 2026

Registered Nurse jobs in Buffalo, NY

The median registered nurse pay in the Buffalo area is $45.86 per hour ($95,380 a year), with the typical range running from $40.56 to $51.11. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Buffalo and its metro area. The CMS hospital directory lists 7 hospitals in Buffalo. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Buffalo.

Open Registered Nurse roles near Buffalo

Roles in other cities of the Buffalo-Cheektowaga area.

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Registered Nurse pay in Buffalo, NY

The metro median is 10% below the New York statewide median of $50.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 13,870 registered nurses employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro area, 26.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.22).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$36.14$75,17020% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$40.56$84,36010% below U.S. median
Median$45.86$95,3802% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$51.11$106,31014% above U.S. median
Top 10%$55.45$115,34023% above U.S. median

How Buffalo ranks

  • 92nd of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 57th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
  • 5th of 11 New York metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Buffalo

  • Overall prices in Buffalo-Cheektowaga run 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 19% below the U.S. average (index 81.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $45.86 median hour buys what $47.85 buys at the national price level, 6% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Buffalo paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,651
  • Per year: $82,548
  • Per month: $6,879

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Buffalo

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$128
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,456
13-week assignment$18,928

Travel registered nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Buffalo

CMS lists 7 hospitals in Buffalo, 1 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Upstate New York Va Healthcare System (Western Ny Va Healthcare System)
Buffalo, NY
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Kaleida Health
Buffalo, NY
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Sisters Of Charity Hospital
Buffalo, NY
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Erie County Medical Center
Buffalo, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Mercy Hospital Of Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Brylin Hosp
Buffalo, NY
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Buffalo Psychiatric Center
Buffalo, NY
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Erie County

HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Erie County (2 population-group, 5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Rochester, NY66 mi$45.68/hr207,282
Erie, PA82 mi$37.48/hr92,940
Syracuse, NY138 mi$40.34/hr146,097
Youngstown, OH154 mi$36.47/hr59,123
Cleveland, OH174 mi$39.41/hr365,379
Pittsburgh, PA179 mi$39.03/hr307,668

Registered Nurse jobs in New York · Registered Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New York

New York is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the New York board for a license by endorsement before working here.

New York taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

New York state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Buffalo

Buffalo city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do registered nurses make in Buffalo, NY?

Registered Nurses in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro area have a median pay of $45.86 per hour, about $95,380 a year. The middle half earn between $40.56 and $51.11 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Buffalo a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?

Buffalo-Cheektowaga ranks 57th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 92nd of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring registered nurses in Buffalo?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Buffalo.

Do I need a New York license to work in Buffalo as a registered nurse?

New York is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the New York board for a license by endorsement before working here. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Buffalo in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Erie County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Buffalo?

The federal per diem benchmark in Buffalo is $128 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,456 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place registered nurses in Buffalo?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Buffalo and across New York. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Buffalo.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · RN near Buffalo, NY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RN pay reportBuffalo, NY · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • NewYork-PresbyterianNew York · 62 postings$65.07/ hr$48–$89
  • Garnet HealthMiddletown, NY · 10 postings$59.64/ hr$35–$78
  • AmedisysCarle Place, NY · 3 postings$56.49/ hr$36–$65
  • Health FirstBronx, NY · 16 postings$52.88/ hr$39–$58

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$38Median$50.88High$66

281 RN postings with published pay in New York, 257 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 281 RN roles

  1. Registered Nurse – Home Care –Hudson ValleyPermanent
    $134k–$153k/ year
    NewYork-Presbyterian · New York · posted today
  2. Staff Nurse - Neonatal ICU-NightsPermanent
    $134k–$153k/ year
    NewYork-Presbyterian · New York · posted today

+ 279 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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