Amherst Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Amherst, NY: $29.31/hr median hourly wage, $60,960 median annual salary, cost of living index 131, and $15.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and New York taxes.
Amherst Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Amherst, NY is $29.31/hr,equivalent to $60,960 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $18.17/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $41.62/hr, and the local minimum wage is $15.00/hr.
Median figures are Salario estimates: BLS OEWS does not publish a metropolitan-area wage series that covers Amherst, NY.
Median Salary
$60,960
$29.31/hr
Cost of Living
131
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$15.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.5%
rate
Amherst, NY Overview
Population
126,082
Median Salary
$60,960
Average Salary
$68,275
Avg Commute
20 min
Median Home Price
$460,000
Median Rent
$1,903/mo
Job Growth
+0.5%
Sales Tax
4%
Amherst is located in New York with a population of 126,082. The median annual wage across all occupations is $60,960 ($29.31/hour, Salario estimate), which is $9,980 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 20 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +0.5%.
Amherst Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Amherst, NY built around the $60,960 median salary (Salario estimate). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $37,795 | $18.17/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $60,960 | $29.31/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $86,563 | $41.62/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $108,509 | $52.17/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value where BLS covers the metro, which is not the case here. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Amherst Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Amherst, NY, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$47,272
$3,939.31/month · $1,818.14/biweekly · Effective Rate: 22.5%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,818.14 take-home per paycheck after estimated New York and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$60,960
Federal Tax
-$5,135
State Tax
-$2,695
Local Tax
-$1,195
FICA
-$4,663
Net Pay
$47,272
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $5,080.00 | $60,960.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$427.93 | -$5,135.20 |
| New York State Tax (4.42% eff.) | -$224.57 | -$2,694.84 |
| Local Tax (1.96%) | -$99.57 | -$1,194.82 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$314.96 | -$3,779.52 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$73.66 | -$883.92 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,939.31 | $47,271.70 |
Salary Comparison: Amherst vs Other Cities
See how Amherst's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, NY | $60,960 | 131 | $46,534 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Danville, VA | $60,776 | 95.4 | $63,706 |
| Durham, NC | $60,720 | 102 | $59,529 |
| Chapel Hill, NC | $60,720 | 97.2 | $62,469 |
| Portland, OR | $60,690 | 130 | $46,685 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Amherst
Amherst's cost of living index is 131 (national average = 100). Living in Amherst is 31% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$460,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,903
Annual Rent Cost
$22,836
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $47,272 annual take-home pay in Amherst has the purchasing power of approximately $36,085 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $79,858 in Amherst to match a $60,960 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Amherst
Amherst's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $60,960.
Salary Tips for Amherst Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Amherst has a cost of living 31% above the national average. When negotiating salary, factor in the higher housing and living costs to ensure your real purchasing power stays competitive.
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 10.9% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Amherst's top industries include Finance, Technology, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $60,960 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Amherst salary data: BLS OEWS does not publish a metropolitan-area series covering Amherst, so the median and average salary here are Salario estimates built from state and regional wage references, not BLS survey values. The entry/senior/top-10% rows and paycheck estimate are Salario calculations built on that estimate. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Amherst indexed at 131.
- Median salary: $60,960 annual, $29.31 hourly, Salario estimate.
- Tax burden reflects New York 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 10.9%), plus Amherst local tax of 1.96%, sales tax (4%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Amherst: 4.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Finance, Technology, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 0.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for New York.
- Housing context: median home price $460,000, median rent $1,903/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Amherst, NY:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Amherst unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Amherst QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, New York, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Amherst's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent New York labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) where available · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Amherst, NY?
The median hourly wage in Amherst, NY is estimated at $29.31 per hour (Salario model; BLS does not publish a metropolitan-area series for this city). At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $60,960 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $18.17/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $41.62/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Amherst, NY?
The median salary in Amherst, NY is $60,960 per year, or $29.31 per hour (Salario estimate). The average salary is $68,275. This is $9,980 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Amherst, NY?
Amherst's cost of living index is 131 (national average = 100), meaning it is 31% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $460,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,903.
What are the best industries in Amherst?
The top industries in Amherst, NY include Finance, Technology, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 0.5% and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $60,960.
How does Amherst's salary compare to other cities?
Amherst's median salary of $60,960 is 19.6% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 131), the real purchasing power is approximately $46,534.
What is the minimum wage in Amherst, NY?
The minimum wage in Amherst, NY is $15.00 per hour. This equals approximately $31,200 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $7.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.