Jobs that actually got a raise in New York

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average (2024), so a New York salary is worth about 0.93× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in New York.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in New York

OccupationMedian, New York · Real change since 2019

1Flight Attendants$126,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,430 – $163,750+110.9%+165.6% nominal
2Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$255,240
Bachelor's degree
$101,390 – $475,690+83.6%+131.2% nominal
3Bartenders$61,210
No formal educational credential
$33,640 – $93,530+58.0%+98.9% nominal
4Transportation Security Screeners$72,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,630 – $79,210+32.0%+66.2% nominal
5Computer Occupations, All Other$116,990
Bachelor's degree
$59,740 – $203,040+30.8%+64.7% nominal
6Driver/Sales Workers$42,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,210 – $62,390+27.4%+60.5% nominal
7Library Technicians$50,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,240 – $76,060+25.8%+58.5% nominal
8Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$135,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,180 – $168,370+25.2%+57.7% nominal
9Counter and Rental Clerks$46,270
No formal educational credential
$35,190 – $73,530+23.0%+54.9% nominal
10Waiters and Waitresses$47,020
No formal educational credential
$33,540 – $83,210+21.0%+52.4% nominal
11Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$102,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,380 – $240,310+20.9%+52.2% nominal
12New Accounts Clerks$57,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,470 – $68,550+19.7%+50.8% nominal
13Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$121,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,740 – $141,160+19.4%+50.3% nominal
14Rehabilitation Counselors$47,960
Master's degree
$37,130 – $76,600+19.2%+50.1% nominal
15Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$56,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,210 – $77,860+19.0%+49.9% nominal
16Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $63,120+16.9%+47.2% nominal
17Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$97,280
Bachelor's degree
$50,060 – $132,530+16.6%+46.9% nominal
18Order Clerks$48,320
Some college, no degree
$34,570 – $65,360+16.6%+46.9% nominal
19Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$96,810
Bachelor's degree
$57,770 – $156,440+16.1%+46.2% nominal
20Baggage Porters and Bellhops$48,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,680 – $61,820+15.4%+45.4% nominal
21Labor Relations Specialists$100,500
Bachelor's degree
$59,160 – $170,210+15.4%+45.4% nominal
22Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$37,180
No formal educational credential
$33,090 – $46,430+15.2%+45.1% nominal
23Community Health Workers$58,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,310 – $87,980+15.1%+45.0% nominal
24Helpers--Production Workers$43,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,140 – $58,250+13.9%+43.5% nominal
25Cooks, Restaurant$43,680
No formal educational credential
$34,490 – $54,240+13.8%+43.4% nominal
26Surgical Technologists$79,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,680 – $105,330+13.7%+43.2% nominal
27Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$52,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,740 – $72,800+13.3%+42.6% nominal
28Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$56,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,850 – $76,540+13.3%+42.7% nominal
29Home Health and Personal Care Aides$39,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $46,690+12.7%+42.0% nominal
30Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$44,630
No formal educational credential
$35,360 – $59,330+12.6%+41.8% nominal
31Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$92,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,750 – $174,820+12.6%+41.7% nominal
32Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$44,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,450 – $53,460+12.5%+41.6% nominal
33Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,340 – $82,530+12.5%+41.7% nominal
34Demonstrators and Product Promoters$49,150
No formal educational credential
$34,820 – $61,390+12.5%+41.6% nominal
35Lawyers$207,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,200 – $391,420+12.3%+41.4% nominal
36Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,050 – $62,320+12.2%+41.3% nominal
37Stockers and Order Fillers$39,030
No formal educational credential
$34,130 – $56,850+12.0%+41.0% nominal
38Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$59,010
Associate's degree
$47,640 – $78,760+11.8%+40.7% nominal
39Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$89,570
Associate's degree
$50,540 – $128,750+11.8%+40.8% nominal
40Amusement and Recreation Attendants$36,300
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $48,390+11.2%+40.0% nominal
41Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$98,470
Associate's degree
$67,540 – $129,310+10.9%+39.7% nominal
42Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,120 – $72,540+10.9%+39.7% nominal
43Cashiers$35,500
No formal educational credential
$32,600 – $44,850+10.6%+39.2% nominal
44Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,240 – $63,400+10.5%+39.1% nominal
45Respiratory Therapists$107,810
Associate's degree
$81,270 – $131,500+10.5%+39.2% nominal
46Retail Salespersons$37,720
No formal educational credential
$33,650 – $58,630+10.5%+39.1% nominal
47Travel Agents$55,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $95,780+10.3%+38.9% nominal
48Film and Video Editors$103,440
Bachelor's degree
$55,990 – $172,280+10.2%+38.8% nominal
49Advertising Sales Agents$98,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,560 – $178,600+10.1%+38.7% nominal
50Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$48,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,100 – $68,510+10.0%+38.5% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianNew York	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,650	$52,430 – $163,750	+110.9%+165.6% nominal
2	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$255,240	$101,390 – $475,690	+83.6%+131.2% nominal
3	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$61,210	$33,640 – $93,530	+58.0%+98.9% nominal
4	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,010	$42,630 – $79,210	+32.0%+66.2% nominal
5	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$116,990	$59,740 – $203,040	+30.8%+64.7% nominal
6	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,730	$33,210 – $62,390	+27.4%+60.5% nominal
7	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,060	$34,240 – $76,060	+25.8%+58.5% nominal
8	Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,720	$78,180 – $168,370	+25.2%+57.7% nominal
9	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$46,270	$35,190 – $73,530	+23.0%+54.9% nominal
10	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$47,020	$33,540 – $83,210	+21.0%+52.4% nominal
11	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$102,800	$63,380 – $240,310	+20.9%+52.2% nominal
12	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,950	$46,470 – $68,550	+19.7%+50.8% nominal
13	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,280	$58,740 – $141,160	+19.4%+50.3% nominal
14	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$47,960	$37,130 – $76,600	+19.2%+50.1% nominal
15	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,900	$40,210 – $77,860	+19.0%+49.9% nominal
16	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,500	$35,560 – $63,120	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
17	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$97,280	$50,060 – $132,530	+16.6%+46.9% nominal
18	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$48,320	$34,570 – $65,360	+16.6%+46.9% nominal
19	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$96,810	$57,770 – $156,440	+16.1%+46.2% nominal
20	Baggage Porters and BellhopsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,610	$37,680 – $61,820	+15.4%+45.4% nominal
21	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$100,500	$59,160 – $170,210	+15.4%+45.4% nominal
22	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$37,180	$33,090 – $46,430	+15.2%+45.1% nominal
23	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,130	$44,310 – $87,980	+15.1%+45.0% nominal
24	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,540	$35,140 – $58,250	+13.9%+43.5% nominal
25	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$43,680	$34,490 – $54,240	+13.8%+43.4% nominal
26	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,550	$53,680 – $105,330	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
27	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,000	$36,740 – $72,800	+13.3%+42.6% nominal
28	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,510	$40,850 – $76,540	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
29	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,620	$36,960 – $46,690	+12.7%+42.0% nominal
30	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$44,630	$35,360 – $59,330	+12.6%+41.8% nominal
31	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,190	$45,750 – $174,820	+12.6%+41.7% nominal
32	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,750	$36,450 – $53,460	+12.5%+41.6% nominal
33	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,990	$38,340 – $82,530	+12.5%+41.7% nominal
34	Demonstrators and Product PromotersNo formal educational credential	$49,150	$34,820 – $61,390	+12.5%+41.6% nominal
35	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$207,860	$85,200 – $391,420	+12.3%+41.4% nominal
36	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,580	$35,050 – $62,320	+12.2%+41.3% nominal
37	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$39,030	$34,130 – $56,850	+12.0%+41.0% nominal
38	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,010	$47,640 – $78,760	+11.8%+40.7% nominal
39	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$89,570	$50,540 – $128,750	+11.8%+40.8% nominal
40	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$36,300	$32,240 – $48,390	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
41	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,470	$67,540 – $129,310	+10.9%+39.7% nominal
42	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,170	$36,120 – $72,540	+10.9%+39.7% nominal
43	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$35,500	$32,600 – $44,850	+10.6%+39.2% nominal
44	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,400	$36,240 – $63,400	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
45	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$107,810	$81,270 – $131,500	+10.5%+39.2% nominal
46	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$37,720	$33,650 – $58,630	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
47	Travel AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,580	$36,680 – $95,780	+10.3%+38.9% nominal
48	Film and Video EditorsBachelor's degree	$103,440	$55,990 – $172,280	+10.2%+38.8% nominal
49	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,360	$49,560 – $178,600	+10.1%+38.7% nominal
50	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,440	$39,100 – $68,510	+10.0%+38.5% nominal

More for New York

Metro areas in New York

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in New York

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in New York to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in New York

More for New York

Metro areas in New York

By field in New York

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state