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Average Salary in New York
This page shows what jobs actually pay in New York, occupation by occupation, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024. BLS publishes wage estimates for 751 occupations in New York. For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage in May 2024 was $67,920, the median wage was $23.80 an hour, and total U.S. employment covered by the survey was 154,187,380 jobs. Use the tables below to see New York's highest-paying occupations, its largest occupations, and which New York jobs pay more — or less — than the same job nationally.
Highest-paying occupations in New York
The highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for New York is pediatric surgeons, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ — 491.6% higher than the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920 — and a median wage of $239,200+ across 140 jobs. Compared with the same occupation nationally (mean $239,200+), New York pays 10.9% lower for this work. Next on the list are cardiologists at a mean of $239,200+ and ophthalmologists, except pediatric at $239,200+. These top-paying fields are small: together the top three employ 3,420 people in New York, so they describe the top of the New York wage ladder rather than the typical worker's experience.
| Occupation | Employment | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pediatric Surgeons | 140 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Cardiologists | 2,260 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | 1,020 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Chief Executives | 7,830 | $105.44 | $219,320 | $239,200+ |
| Radiologists | 1,950 | $104.05 | $216,420 | $239,200+ |
| Dermatologists | 1,400 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 5,220 | $49.91 | $103,810 | $239,200+ |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 6,530 | — | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 1,450 | $103.67 | $215,630 | $239,200+ |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 2,990 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 1,210 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Surgeons, All Other | 4,100 | $79.93 | $166,240 | $239,200+ |
| Anesthesiologists | 1,850 | $103.72 | $215,740 | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, All Other | 13,280 | $114.28 | $237,710 | $239,200+ |
| Sales Managers | 35,160 | $103.05 | $214,350 | $239,200+ |
Largest occupations in New York
The occupation with the most jobs in New York is home health and personal care aides, employing an estimated 623,000 people at a median annual wage of $37,980 and a mean of $39,660. Nationally the same occupation pays a median of $34,900, so New York's typical pay for this work runs 8.8% higher. The next-largest occupations are retail salespersons (233,740 jobs, median $37,020) and general and operations managers (210,890 jobs, median $129,990). Because these occupations are so large, their wages move the overall picture of New York pay far more than the small, highly paid fields above.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 623,000 | $37,980 | $39,660 |
| Retail Salespersons | 233,740 | $37,020 | $42,700 |
| General and Operations Managers | 210,890 | $129,990 | $169,610 |
| Registered Nurses in New York | 204,120 | $105,600 | $110,490 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 186,370 | $39,920 | $44,210 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 183,810 | $35,270 | $36,300 |
| Cashiers | 163,700 | $35,030 | $36,600 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 145,100 | $47,840 | $52,610 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 142,870 | $38,630 | $41,810 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 140,890 | $46,460 | $53,360 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 134,590 | $36,600 | $38,990 |
| Office Clerks, General | 133,060 | $44,620 | $47,700 |
| Security Guards | 132,140 | $42,680 | $45,920 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 127,620 | $49,200 | $51,190 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 124,640 | $56,180 | $58,290 |
Where New York pays a premium — and where it lags
Comparing each occupation's New York median with its own national median shows where New York's labor market is strong. Among occupations with at least 1,000 New York jobs, the largest premium is for legislators: a median of $97,050 in New York versus $44,810 nationally, 116.6% higher. The largest discount is for surgeons, all other, at $166,240 in New York versus $239,200 nationally, 30.5% lower. In total, 475 of the 549 occupations with 1,000 or more New York jobs pay a median above their national median. Separately, 369 of the 751 occupations published for New York have a median annual wage above the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920, which underlines how much of New York's job base sits in lower-wage service work even in a state with high-paying headline jobs.
| Occupation | New York median | U.S. median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legislators | $97,050 | $44,810 | +116.6% |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $167,040 | $78,140 | +113.8% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $129,860 | $62,190 | +108.8% |
| Flight Attendants | $128,050 | $67,130 | +90.7% |
| Bartenders | $60,750 | $33,530 | +81.2% |
| Web Developers | $67,400 | $90,930 | -25.9% |
| Pediatricians, General | $155,570 | $210,130 | -26.0% |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $173,340 | $236,350 | -26.7% |
| Airfield Operations Specialists | $40,980 | $56,750 | -27.8% |
| Surgeons, All Other | $166,240 | $239,200 | -30.5% |
Detailed New York occupation guides
- Accountant salary in New York
- Software Developer salary in New York
- Elementary School Teacher salary in New York
- Registered Nurse salary in New York
New York salary FAQ
What is the highest-paying job in New York?
By average pay, pediatric surgeons is the highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for New York, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ and a median of $239,200+ in May 2024.
What is the average salary in New York?
For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage was $67,920 in May 2024. In New York, the largest occupation, home health and personal care aides, paid a median of $37,980 across 623,000 jobs, and the tables on this page show mean and median pay for all 751 published occupations.
How many jobs does the largest occupation in New York have?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides is the largest occupation published for New York, with an estimated 623,000 jobs in May 2024 and a mean annual wage of $39,660.
Which occupations pay more in New York than in the U.S. overall?
Among occupations with at least 1,000 New York jobs, legislators shows the largest premium: a median of $97,050 in New York versus $44,810 nationally, 116.6% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.