Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Elmira, NY

Each occupation's median wage in Elmira, NY compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Elmira, NY pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Elmira, NY run 5.6% below the national average (2024), so a Elmira, NY salary is worth about 1.06× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Elmira, NY

OccupationMedian, Elmira, NY · vs. national

1Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$116,910
Bachelor's degree
$39,610 – $282,690+48.6%
2Production Workers, All Other$56,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,900 – $67,770+41.6%
3Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$79,410
Master's degree
$51,280 – $92,870+31.7%
4Waiters and Waitresses$46,160
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $74,470+31.0%
5Correctional Officers and Jailers$76,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,010 – $85,070+30.3%
6Highway Maintenance Workers$62,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,860 – $71,890+24.2%
7Loan Officers$95,050
Bachelor's degree
$44,660 – $262,380+23.9%
8Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$48,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,340 – $65,760+23.8%
9Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$46,320
Associate's degree
$35,770 – $81,490+21.4%
10Painters, Construction and Maintenance$59,490
No formal educational credential
$38,740 – $98,870+20.4%
11Bartenders$41,110
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $77,780+19.7%
12Driver/Sales Workers$46,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,240 – $60,860+19.0%
13Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,510 – $65,400+18.9%
14Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$52,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $55,990+14.4%
15Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$55,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $69,780+14.0%
16Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$64,690
Bachelor's degree
$50,850 – $79,640+14.0%
17Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$65,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,010 – $117,790+9.9%
18Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$34,090
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $45,830+9.3%
19Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,000 – $64,440+8.5%
20Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$73,850
Master's degree
$50,880 – $101,350+8.2%
21Facilities Managers$113,180
Bachelor's degree
$72,940 – $168,680+6.1%
22Roofers$58,730
No formal educational credential
$39,790 – $60,700+5.9%
23Fast Food and Counter Workers$32,950
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $37,130+5.6%
24Security Guards$40,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,240 – $69,360+5.5%
25Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,240 – $61,040+5.5%
26Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$78,170
Bachelor's degree
$57,970 – $82,920+5.3%
27Construction Laborers$49,600
No formal educational credential
$36,470 – $75,210+5.3%
28First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,530 – $101,210+5.2%
29Bus Drivers, School$50,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,310 – $75,390+5.1%
30Counter and Rental Clerks$43,420
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $66,330+5.1%
31First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$51,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,940 – $84,930+4.9%
32Packers and Packagers, Hand$38,060
No formal educational credential
$34,440 – $43,990+4.9%
33Nurse Practitioners$138,700
Master's degree
$110,580 – $165,330+4.8%
34Social and Human Service Assistants$47,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,880 – $57,760+4.2%
35Training and Development Specialists$71,990
Bachelor's degree
$34,320 – $96,900+3.9%
36Clergy$62,780
Bachelor's degree
$47,120 – $95,720+3.2%
37Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,240 – $47,570+3.1%
38Dental Assistants$49,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,890 – $57,960+2.9%
39Instructional Coordinators$79,450
Master's degree
$44,420 – $125,390+2.6%
40Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$109,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,700 – $161,240+2.6%
41Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,570 – $84,720+2.3%
42New Accounts Clerks$48,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $59,540+2.1%
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $76,110+1.7%
44Chefs and Head Cooks$63,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $86,780+1.5%
45Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,100 – $119,150+1.4%
46Physician Assistants$137,550
Master's degree
$85,130 – $159,050+1.2%
47Pharmacists$142,640
Doctoral or professional degree
$115,590 – $160,360+1.2%
48Machinists$59,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,330 – $72,030+1.0%
49Carpenters$61,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,780 – $88,500+1.0%
50Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$106,800
Master's degree
$81,030 – $157,980+0.9%

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

#	Occupation	MedianElmira, NY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$116,910	$39,610 – $282,690	+48.6%
2	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,810	$39,900 – $67,770	+41.6%
3	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$79,410	$51,280 – $92,870	+31.7%
4	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$46,160	$32,240 – $74,470	+31.0%
5	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,820	$64,010 – $85,070	+30.3%
6	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,440	$43,860 – $71,890	+24.2%
7	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$95,050	$44,660 – $262,380	+23.9%
8	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,770	$34,340 – $65,760	+23.8%
9	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$46,320	$35,770 – $81,490	+21.4%
10	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$38,740 – $98,870	+20.4%
11	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$41,110	$32,240 – $77,780	+19.7%
12	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,150	$32,240 – $60,860	+19.0%
13	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$38,510 – $65,400	+18.9%
14	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,460	$36,400 – $55,990	+14.4%
15	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,380	$38,130 – $69,780	+14.0%
16	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$64,690	$50,850 – $79,640	+14.0%
17	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,760	$37,010 – $117,790	+9.9%
18	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$34,090	$32,240 – $45,830	+9.3%
19	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,170	$40,000 – $64,440	+8.5%
20	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$73,850	$50,880 – $101,350	+8.2%
21	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$113,180	$72,940 – $168,680	+6.1%
22	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$58,730	$39,790 – $60,700	+5.9%
23	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$32,950	$32,240 – $37,130	+5.6%
24	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,130	$32,240 – $69,360	+5.5%
25	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,590	$32,240 – $61,040	+5.5%
26	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,170	$57,970 – $82,920	+5.3%
27	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$49,600	$36,470 – $75,210	+5.3%
28	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,350	$50,530 – $101,210	+5.2%
29	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,370	$46,310 – $75,390	+5.1%
30	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$43,420	$32,240 – $66,330	+5.1%
31	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,500	$35,940 – $84,930	+4.9%
32	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$38,060	$34,440 – $43,990	+4.9%
33	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$138,700	$110,580 – $165,330	+4.8%
34	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,850	$34,880 – $57,760	+4.2%
35	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$71,990	$34,320 – $96,900	+3.9%
36	ClergyBachelor's degree	$62,780	$47,120 – $95,720	+3.2%
37	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,900	$32,240 – $47,570	+3.1%
38	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,450	$38,890 – $57,960	+2.9%
39	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$79,450	$44,420 – $125,390	+2.6%
40	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,980	$65,700 – $161,240	+2.6%
41	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,400	$46,570 – $84,720	+2.3%
42	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,690	$39,110 – $59,540	+2.1%
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,050	$46,820 – $76,110	+1.7%
44	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,410	$46,810 – $86,780	+1.5%
45	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,680	$45,100 – $119,150	+1.4%
46	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$137,550	$85,130 – $159,050	+1.2%
47	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$142,640	$115,590 – $160,360	+1.2%
48	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,330	$43,330 – $72,030	+1.0%
49	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,190	$46,780 – $88,500	+1.0%
50	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$106,800	$81,030 – $157,980	+0.9%

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