Economics Degree in Buffalo, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Buffalo, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$79K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$122K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in Buffalo
Cost of Living
122
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Buffalo, NY Overview
Buffalo, New York (pop. 278,349) has 10 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 122 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,292/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Buffalo is approximately $79,300, growing to $122,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$10,099/yr
Private Tuition
$32,790/yr
Room & Board
$17,384/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,716/yr
Unemployment
6.2%
Graduation Rate
54%
Economics Salary in Buffalo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Buffalo's cost of living index of 122 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Buffalo adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Buffalo
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Buffalo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,099 | Private avg: $32,790
Buffalo avg aid: $12,716/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,932
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$36,600
vs HS diploma in Buffalo
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Buffalo
$927,068
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,037,000) minus total education cost ($109,932)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Buffalo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Buffalo for Economics
University at Buffalo
public
$10,099/yr
$40,396 total
Canisius University
private
$32,790/yr
$131,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Erie Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Buffalo
Buffalo offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Buffalo Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$108K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$122K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$94K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$92K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$99K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$94K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$91K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Huntington, NY
$88K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Business Majors in Buffalo
Business Analytics
$95K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$85K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$61K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$76K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$71K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Buffalo — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Economics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Buffalo.