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.
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianNew York | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Real change since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential | $47,020 | $33,540 – $83,210 | +21.0%+52.4% nominal |
| 2 | Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential | $43,680 | $34,490 – $54,240 | +13.8%+43.4% nominal |
| 3 | Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $39,620 | $36,960 – $46,690 | +12.7%+42.0% nominal |
| 4 | 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 |
| 5 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential | $44,630 | $35,360 – $59,330 | +12.6%+41.8% nominal |
| 6 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $207,860 | $85,200 – $391,420 | +12.3%+41.4% nominal |
| 7 | Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential | $39,030 | $34,130 – $56,850 | +12.0%+41.0% nominal |
| 8 | CashiersNo formal educational credential | $35,500 | $32,600 – $44,850 | +10.6%+39.2% nominal |
| 9 | Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential | $37,720 | $33,650 – $58,630 | +10.5%+39.1% nominal |
| 10 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $98,580 | $56,070 – $165,920 | +7.6%+35.5% nominal |
| 11 | Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential | $35,250 | $32,240 – $44,740 | +6.0%+33.5% nominal |
| 12 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $57,790 | $37,010 – $83,570 | +5.1%+32.3% nominal |
| 13 | Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,330 | $34,070 – $72,890 | +4.9%+32.1% nominal |
| 14 | Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $45,890 | $34,270 – $64,800 | +4.9%+32.1% nominal |
| 15 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $79,590 | $47,070 – $156,400 | +4.4%+31.5% nominal |
| 16 | Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $44,240 | $35,650 – $60,580 | +3.1%+29.8% nominal |
| 17 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree | $168,340 | $59,960 – $329,460 | +2.0%+28.4% nominal |
| 18 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $58,300 | $38,840 – $88,640 | +1.9%+28.3% nominal |
| 19 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree | $58,160 | $39,880 – $81,990 | +1.2%+27.4% nominal |
| 20 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential | $41,640 | $34,540 – $61,830 | +1.1%+27.3% nominal |
| 21 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award | $62,050 | $47,880 – $88,100 | +0.1%+26.0% nominal |
| 22 | Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $48,590 | $38,450 – $59,890 | 0.0%+25.9% nominal |
| 23 | Receptionists and Information ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $43,080 | $34,740 – $59,140 | -0.2%+25.7% nominal |
| 24 | Registered NursesBachelor's degree | $109,440 | $79,760 – $157,090 | -0.5%+25.3% nominal |
| 25 | Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $48,000 | $36,270 – $76,280 | -2.0%+23.4% nominal |
| 26 | Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential | $35,610 | $33,280 – $46,800 | -2.6%+22.7% nominal |
| 27 | Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree | $38,240 | $32,240 – $54,990 | -2.6%+22.6% nominal |
| 28 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $47,190 | $36,570 – $73,020 | -2.7%+22.5% nominal |
| 29 | Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $84,380 | $56,040 – $149,990 | -3.4%+21.6% nominal |
| 30 | Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $47,710 | $38,430 – $61,160 | -4.2%+20.7% nominal |
| 31 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent | $49,600 | $37,330 – $64,840 | -4.5%+20.2% nominal |
| 32 | Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential | $55,930 | $34,320 – $96,590 | -4.6%+20.1% nominal |
| 33 | Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree | $102,640 | $63,700 – $171,030 | -5.9%+18.5% nominal |
| 34 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $79,170 | $55,240 – $124,450 | -6.8%+17.3% nominal |
| 35 | Management AnalystsBachelor's degree | $112,250 | $64,900 – $209,440 | -8.1%+15.7% nominal |
| 36 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $92,790 | $53,000 – $118,250 | -8.5%+15.2% nominal |
| 37 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree | $97,070 | $60,070 – $136,450 | -9.4%+14.1% nominal |
| 38 | Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $80,640 | $61,420 – $122,440 | -11.2%+11.8% nominal |
| 39 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $219,880 | $124,670 – $370,780 | -11.4%+11.6% nominal |
| 40 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree | $85,760 | $56,760 – $136,260 | -14.0%+8.3% nominal |
| 41 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $181,200 | $104,140 – $324,310 | -16.3%+5.4% nominal |
| 42 | General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree | $130,860 | $62,340 – $336,070 | -21.2%-0.8% nominal |