Nurse Anesthetist Salary in Buffalo, NY: $260,864 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse anesthetist in Buffalo, NY earns a median $260,864/year (≈ $125.42/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1151). Once you factor in Buffalo's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.8), that paycheck buys what $272,176 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.6% below the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source

In Buffalo, New York, the structure of employment significantly impacts nurse anesthetist salaries, with a median figure projected at $260,864 for 2026. This salary position is competitive when compared to the national median of $248,893, placing Buffalo nurse anesthetist pay roughly 4.81% higher than the national average. The salary range for these professionals spans from $109,892 at the 10th percentile to $322,501 at the 90th percentile, according to estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. Buffalo’s job market reflects a diverse array of employment options, including W-2 positions with hospitals and group practices, as well as 1099 contracts with locum tenens agencies which can influence overall compensation significantly.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $109,892 | $52.83 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $230,798 | $110.96 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $260,864 | $125.42 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $294,486 | $141.58 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $322,501 | $155.05 |
Median Salary Position
4.81% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Buffalo
In Buffalo, NY, the nurse anesthetist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $212,609 (2026 est.). At $260,864, the local median is 4.81% above the national median of $248,893.
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At 40 hours/week in Buffalo: You'd be above the median
How Buffalo Nurse Anesthetist Pay Compares
Buffalo median: $260,864/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Buffalo Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $288,567 | -9.60% less |
| National Average | $248,893 | +4.81% more |
Nurse Anesthetists in Buffalo, NY earn a median of $260,864 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.81% higher than the national median of $248,893 and 9.60% below the New York state average of $288,567.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Buffalo has a cost of living 4.16% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Buffalo, NY has a cost-of-living index of 95.844 (below the national average of 100). A nurse anesthetist earning $260,864 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $272,176 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.34% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$159,080
2025 BLS Actual
$247,970
2026 Current Est.
$260,864
2019–2027 Growth
+72.5%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Anesthetists in Buffalo (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $159,080 | Actual |
| 2020 | $174,020 | Actual |
| 2021 | $207,230 | Actual |
| 2022 | $206,400 | Actual |
| 2023 | $229,660 | Actual |
| 2024 | $238,530 | Actual |
| 2025 | $247,970 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $260,864 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $274,429 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Buffalo metropolitan area, the median nurse anesthetist salary grew 55.9% from $159,080 (2019) to $247,970 (2025). At a 5.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $274,429 by 2027 — a total increase of $115,349 (72.51%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Buffalo metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.20% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $109,892 – $230,798 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $230,798 – $260,864 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $260,864 – $294,486 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $294,486 – $322,501 |
CRNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse anesthetist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Market in Buffalo
As of the latest data, about 50 nurse anesthetists are currently employed in the Buffalo area, offering a glimpse into the local job market's strength. With a cost-of-living index of 95.844, residents can expect a slightly lower expense burden compared to the national average, which can enhance their purchasing power. Among local employers, hospital systems typically provide the highest salaries, closely followed by CRNA-owned anesthesia group practices that offer lucrative partnership opportunities. The variation in pay is influenced by various factors such as call coverage rotations, differentials for weekend and holiday shifts, and the structure of tax obligations for W-2 versus 1099 workers. To maximize earnings in this Buffalo market, nurse anesthetists may benefit from securing positions with higher call demands or pursuing advanced certifications that can enhance their marketability and financial outcome.
More salary data for Buffalo, NY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA
Career Analyst
Alexandra Johnson has 10 years of experience as a nurse anesthetist. She specializes in anesthesia for orthopedic surgeries. She works in a regional medical center.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $247,970 for nurse anesthetistsin the Buffalo metropolitan area. A 5.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.20%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nurse anesthetists (SOC 29-1151).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA, a licensed nurse anesthetist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov