Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Syracuse, NY

Each occupation's median wage in Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, NY pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Syracuse, NY run 4.3% below the national average (2024), so a Syracuse, NY salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Syracuse, NY

OccupationMedian, Syracuse, NY · vs. national

1Music Directors and Composers$140,230
Bachelor's degree
$49,630 – $221,140+90.2%
2Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$82,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $82,530+59.9%
3Real Estate Sales Agents$82,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,060 – $173,290+56.2%
4Tree Trimmers and Pruners$75,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,230 – $91,340+47.4%
5Opticians, Dispensing$68,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,930 – $85,070+45.7%
6Insulation Workers, Mechanical$82,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,630 – $96,670+42.2%
7Bartenders$46,710
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $80,070+36.0%
8Waiters and Waitresses$47,640
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $79,750+35.2%
9Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$138,940
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,410 – $299,430+34.4%
10Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$97,900
Associate's degree
$57,940 – $111,260+31.7%
11Library Technicians$58,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,370 – $61,910+31.3%
12Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$124,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,060 – $131,650+31.1%
13Maintenance Workers, Machinery$79,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,320 – $90,360+31.0%
14Coaches and Scouts$60,600
Bachelor's degree
$35,640 – $100,660+28.1%
15First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$71,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,850 – $106,800+28.1%
16Social Workers, All Other$91,370
Bachelor's degree
$52,030 – $114,650+27.1%
17Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$79,250
Bachelor's degree
$47,640 – $109,950+25.9%
18Education Administrators, Postsecondary$130,200
Master's degree
$78,620 – $215,390+24.5%
19Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$78,810
Bachelor's degree
$45,320 – $100,330+23.5%
20First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$107,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,120 – $163,620+23.1%
21Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$78,560
Bachelor's degree
$60,880 – $93,490+22.8%
22Correctional Officers and Jailers$72,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,110 – $80,340+22.3%
23Residential Advisors$51,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,670 – $62,430+22.3%
24Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,500
Bachelor's degree
$58,670 – $97,830+22.0%
25Electricians$77,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,080 – $117,310+22.0%
26Public Safety Telecommunicators$64,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,040 – $71,680+21.7%
27Personal Financial Advisors$126,430
Bachelor's degree
$67,690 – $448,140+20.3%
28Bus Drivers, School$57,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,810 – $76,630+20.2%
29Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$74,800
Bachelor's degree
$47,950 – $94,050+19.3%
30Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School$77,470
Bachelor's degree
$56,290 – $89,220+19.1%
31Brickmasons and Blockmasons$73,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $102,730+18.9%
32Cargo and Freight Agents$62,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,100 – $73,150+18.8%
33Security Guards$45,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,500 – $77,650+18.5%
34Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$71,170
Master's degree
$48,340 – $93,330+18.1%
35History Teachers, Postsecondary$98,720
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,390 – $132,180+17.8%
36Butchers and Meat Cutters$47,170
No formal educational credential
$34,990 – $58,930+17.5%
37Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$77,590
Bachelor's degree
$59,650 – $95,130+17.1%
38Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$75,690
Bachelor's degree
$59,750 – $86,060+16.2%
39Parts Salespersons$44,850
No formal educational credential
$34,220 – $60,250+16.1%
40Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$119,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$96,620 – $124,030+15.7%
41Construction Managers$132,760
Bachelor's degree
$82,010 – $202,360+15.5%
42Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$126,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,090 – $148,750+15.2%
43Sales Managers$170,090
Bachelor's degree
$89,940 – $291,490+14.7%
44Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$45,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $67,180+14.2%
45Tire Repairers and Changers$42,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,410 – $52,160+13.6%
46Special Education Teachers, Middle School$75,920
Bachelor's degree
$60,000 – $96,260+13.6%
47Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,980 – $61,940+13.5%
48Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,420 – $96,090+13.2%
49Optometrists$153,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,930 – $350,060+12.6%
50Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$83,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,450 – $110,240+12.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianSyracuse, NY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Music Directors and ComposersBachelor's degree	$140,230	$49,630 – $221,140	+90.2%
2	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,530	$49,160 – $82,530	+59.9%
3	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,520	$45,060 – $173,290	+56.2%
4	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,140	$50,230 – $91,340	+47.4%
5	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,880	$46,930 – $85,070	+45.7%
6	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,950	$37,630 – $96,670	+42.2%
7	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$46,710	$32,240 – $80,070	+36.0%
8	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$47,640	$32,240 – $79,750	+35.2%
9	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,940	$73,410 – $299,430	+34.4%
10	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,900	$57,940 – $111,260	+31.7%
11	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,520	$33,370 – $61,910	+31.3%
12	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,970	$76,060 – $131,650	+31.1%
13	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,720	$47,320 – $90,360	+31.0%
14	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$60,600	$35,640 – $100,660	+28.1%
15	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,650	$46,850 – $106,800	+28.1%
16	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$91,370	$52,030 – $114,650	+27.1%
17	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$79,250	$47,640 – $109,950	+25.9%
18	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$130,200	$78,620 – $215,390	+24.5%
19	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$78,810	$45,320 – $100,330	+23.5%
20	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,700	$63,120 – $163,620	+23.1%
21	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$78,560	$60,880 – $93,490	+22.8%
22	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,060	$50,110 – $80,340	+22.3%
23	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,670	$36,670 – $62,430	+22.3%
24	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$78,500	$58,670 – $97,830	+22.0%
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,110	$46,080 – $117,310	+22.0%
26	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,550	$52,040 – $71,680	+21.7%
27	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$126,430	$67,690 – $448,140	+20.3%
28	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,590	$42,810 – $76,630	+20.2%
29	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$74,800	$47,950 – $94,050	+19.3%
30	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,470	$56,290 – $89,220	+19.1%
31	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,880	$52,000 – $102,730	+18.9%
32	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,100	$46,100 – $73,150	+18.8%
33	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,050	$34,500 – $77,650	+18.5%
34	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$71,170	$48,340 – $93,330	+18.1%
35	History Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$98,720	$78,390 – $132,180	+17.8%
36	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$47,170	$34,990 – $58,930	+17.5%
37	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,590	$59,650 – $95,130	+17.1%
38	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,690	$59,750 – $86,060	+16.2%
39	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$44,850	$34,220 – $60,250	+16.1%
40	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayPostsecondary nondegree award	$119,230	$96,620 – $124,030	+15.7%
41	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$132,760	$82,010 – $202,360	+15.5%
42	Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,630	$66,090 – $148,750	+15.2%
43	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$170,090	$89,940 – $291,490	+14.7%
44	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,270	$35,900 – $67,180	+14.2%
45	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,820	$35,410 – $52,160	+13.6%
46	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,920	$60,000 – $96,260	+13.6%
47	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,060	$37,980 – $61,940	+13.5%
48	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,030	$52,420 – $96,090	+13.2%
49	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$153,790	$100,930 – $350,060	+12.6%
50	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,610	$45,450 – $110,240	+12.5%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Syracuse, NY

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