Jobs that lost the most to inflation in New York

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Special Education Teachers, Preschool$68,180
Bachelor's degree
$45,760 – $170,200-31.5%-13.7% nominal
2Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$67,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,220 – $102,180-30.0%-11.8% nominal
3Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$87,230
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,400 – $162,400-28.7%-10.2% nominal
4Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$106,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,140 – $213,570-26.5%-7.4% nominal
5Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$82,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,840 – $145,230-25.5%-6.2% nominal
6Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$47,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,300 – $105,700-24.9%-5.5% nominal
7English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$84,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,220 – $173,580-24.8%-5.3% nominal
8Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280-22.8%-2.8% nominal
9Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$96,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,180 – $170,200-21.9%-1.7% nominal
10Natural Sciences Managers$134,680
Bachelor's degree
$65,440 – $291,780-21.6%-1.3% nominal
11General Internal Medicine Physicians$183,460
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,160 – $416,640-21.3%-0.9% nominal
12General and Operations Managers$130,860
Bachelor's degree
$62,340 – $336,070-21.2%-0.8% nominal
13Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$87,760
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,490 – $177,510-20.3%+0.4% nominal
14Education Teachers, Postsecondary$82,020
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,680 – $168,280-18.9%+2.2% nominal
15Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$98,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$56,520 – $205,870-18.4%+2.8% nominal
16Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$81,260
Bachelor's degree
$59,460 – $133,280-18.1%+3.1% nominal
17Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$64,040
No formal educational credential
$49,540 – $102,970-18.1%+3.2% nominal
18Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$64,950
No formal educational credential
$42,740 – $86,720-17.7%+3.6% nominal
19Advertising and Promotions Managers$173,700
Bachelor's degree
$75,430 – $343,540-17.6%+3.8% nominal
20Automotive Body and Related Repairers$47,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,580 – $81,970-17.5%+3.9% nominal
21Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$58,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,210 – $82,910-17.5%+3.9% nominal
22First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$124,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,100 – $189,550-17.3%+4.2% nominal
23Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$49,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,280 – $78,350-16.6%+5.0% nominal
24Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$79,820
Bachelor's degree
$59,490 – $130,160-16.4%+5.3% nominal
25Computer Network Support Specialists$77,540
Associate's degree
$48,970 – $128,350-16.3%+5.4% nominal
26Marketing Managers$181,200
Bachelor's degree
$104,140 – $324,310-16.3%+5.4% nominal
27Industrial Production Managers$130,470
Bachelor's degree
$81,960 – $206,450-15.9%+5.8% nominal
28Glaziers$61,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,080 – $103,730-15.8%+6.0% nominal
29Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$53,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,740 – $97,120-15.8%+6.1% nominal
30Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$99,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,510 – $208,740-15.8%+6.0% nominal
31Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,840 – $70,260-15.1%+6.9% nominal
32Bailiffs$77,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,400 – $96,770-14.9%+7.2% nominal
33Producers and Directors$107,550
Bachelor's degree
$61,960 – $222,580-14.4%+7.8% nominal
34Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$138,830
Master's degree
$87,100 – $200,380-14.4%+7.8% nominal
35Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$77,630
Bachelor's degree
$49,020 – $137,710-14.3%+8.0% nominal
36Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$99,280
Bachelor's degree
$63,920 – $165,660-14.3%+8.0% nominal
37Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$53,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,250 – $78,230-14.1%+8.1% nominal
38Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$85,760
Bachelor's degree
$56,760 – $136,260-14.0%+8.3% nominal
39Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,160
Bachelor's degree
$58,240 – $139,490-13.9%+8.5% nominal
40Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,350 – $102,260-13.3%+9.1% nominal
41Special Education Teachers, Middle School$93,820
Bachelor's degree
$59,720 – $132,490-13.2%+9.3% nominal
42Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$83,200
Bachelor's degree
$58,740 – $131,110-13.2%+9.3% nominal
43Computer Systems Analysts$109,610
Bachelor's degree
$67,220 – $171,360-13.0%+9.5% nominal
44Electricians$78,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,740 – $131,640-12.7%+9.9% nominal
45Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$43,610
Bachelor's degree
$34,680 – $75,190-12.7%+9.9% nominal
46Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$89,310
Bachelor's degree
$60,740 – $134,460-12.5%+10.2% nominal
47First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$95,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,240 – $140,210-12.4%+10.3% nominal
48Education Administrators, Postsecondary$139,640
Master's degree
$87,240 – $278,010-12.4%+10.3% nominal
49First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$60,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,160 – $84,930-12.4%+10.3% nominal
50Real Estate Sales Agents$102,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,350 – $178,710-12.2%+10.6% 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	Special Education Teachers, PreschoolBachelor's degree	$68,180	$45,760 – $170,200	-31.5%-13.7% nominal
2	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,710	$48,220 – $102,180	-30.0%-11.8% nominal
3	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$87,230	$52,400 – $162,400	-28.7%-10.2% nominal
4	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$106,240	$61,140 – $213,570	-26.5%-7.4% nominal
5	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,950	$49,840 – $145,230	-25.5%-6.2% nominal
6	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,090	$34,300 – $105,700	-24.9%-5.5% nominal
7	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$84,850	$52,220 – $173,580	-24.8%-5.3% nominal
8	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
9	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$96,450	$51,180 – $170,200	-21.9%-1.7% nominal
10	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$134,680	$65,440 – $291,780	-21.6%-1.3% nominal
11	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$183,460	$78,160 – $416,640	-21.3%-0.9% nominal
12	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,860	$62,340 – $336,070	-21.2%-0.8% nominal
13	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$87,760	$67,490 – $177,510	-20.3%+0.4% nominal
14	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,020	$51,680 – $168,280	-18.9%+2.2% nominal
15	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$98,180	$56,520 – $205,870	-18.4%+2.8% nominal
16	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$81,260	$59,460 – $133,280	-18.1%+3.1% nominal
17	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$64,040	$49,540 – $102,970	-18.1%+3.2% nominal
18	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$64,950	$42,740 – $86,720	-17.7%+3.6% nominal
19	Advertising and Promotions ManagersBachelor's degree	$173,700	$75,430 – $343,540	-17.6%+3.8% nominal
20	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,670	$37,580 – $81,970	-17.5%+3.9% nominal
21	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,550	$40,210 – $82,910	-17.5%+3.9% nominal
22	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,080	$94,100 – $189,550	-17.3%+4.2% nominal
23	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,640	$38,280 – $78,350	-16.6%+5.0% nominal
24	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$79,820	$59,490 – $130,160	-16.4%+5.3% nominal
25	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$77,540	$48,970 – $128,350	-16.3%+5.4% nominal
26	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$181,200	$104,140 – $324,310	-16.3%+5.4% nominal
27	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,470	$81,960 – $206,450	-15.9%+5.8% nominal
28	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,760	$45,080 – $103,730	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
29	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,500	$39,740 – $97,120	-15.8%+6.1% nominal
30	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,390	$57,510 – $208,740	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
31	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,660	$33,840 – $70,260	-15.1%+6.9% nominal
32	BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,540	$56,400 – $96,770	-14.9%+7.2% nominal
33	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$107,550	$61,960 – $222,580	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
34	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$138,830	$87,100 – $200,380	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
35	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$77,630	$49,020 – $137,710	-14.3%+8.0% nominal
36	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$99,280	$63,920 – $165,660	-14.3%+8.0% nominal
37	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,430	$47,250 – $78,230	-14.1%+8.1% nominal
38	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$85,760	$56,760 – $136,260	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
39	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$82,160	$58,240 – $139,490	-13.9%+8.5% nominal
40	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,990	$48,350 – $102,260	-13.3%+9.1% nominal
41	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$93,820	$59,720 – $132,490	-13.2%+9.3% nominal
42	Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$83,200	$58,740 – $131,110	-13.2%+9.3% nominal
43	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$109,610	$67,220 – $171,360	-13.0%+9.5% nominal
44	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,750	$45,740 – $131,640	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
45	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$43,610	$34,680 – $75,190	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
46	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$89,310	$60,740 – $134,460	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
47	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,700	$61,240 – $140,210	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
48	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$139,640	$87,240 – $278,010	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
49	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,580	$39,160 – $84,930	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
50	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,990	$48,350 – $178,710	-12.2%+10.6% 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 lost the most to inflation in New York

More for New York

Metro areas in New York

By field in New York

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state