StateRates

Ithaca salaries

The median worker in the Ithaca, NY metro area earned $56,350 a year in 2024, about $27.09 an hour. That ranks #30 of the 391 metro areas published here, 13.8% above the national median.

New York

Median pay $56,350 $27.09 per hour
Vs national +13.8% U.S. $49,500
Workers 48,030 wage and salary
Metro rank #30 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Ithaca pays 3.8% less than New York as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 36.63× 1,120 $127,430
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 13.99× 1,000 $138,030
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants 3.93× 580 $63,650
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1.69× 910 $47,700
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 1.56× 670 $35,180
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1.32× 630 $47,600
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1.29× 880 $37,250
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 1.19× 540 $49,920
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 1.13× 520 $61,840
Cashiers 0.96× 940 $34,290
Office Clerks, General 0.91× 710 $36,740
Retail Salespersons 0.9× 1,060 $35,010

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Ithaca
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary $138,030 n/a 1,000
Education Administrators, Postsecondary $134,250 $64.54 300
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary $127,430 n/a 1,120
Software Developers $105,000 $50.48 370
Registered Nurses $103,290 $49.66 870
General and Operations Managers $98,510 $47.36 810
Business Teachers, Postsecondary $96,220 n/a 460
Project Management Specialists $92,810 $44.62 220
Education Teachers, Postsecondary $83,680 n/a 200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $79,270 n/a 350
Accountants and Auditors $79,060 $38.01 410
Instructional Coordinators $76,660 $36.86 290
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary $74,520 n/a 210
Human Resources Specialists $74,210 $35.68 200
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $73,540 $35.36 230
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $69,220 $33.28 220
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $64,140 n/a 460
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants $63,650 $30.60 580
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $63,300 $30.43 270
Computer User Support Specialists $61,990 $29.80 230
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $61,840 $29.73 520
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,670 $29.65 200
Carpenters $56,960 $27.39 200
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,610 $26.26 210
Bus Drivers, School $53,290 $25.62 260
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $51,110 $24.57 270
Bartenders $49,940 $24.01 280
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $49,920 $24.00 540
Social and Human Service Assistants $49,390 $23.75 320
Medical Assistants $48,860 $23.49 240
Security Guards $48,480 $23.31 250
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $47,700 $22.93 910
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $47,600 $22.89 630
Coaches and Scouts $47,300 n/a 210
Waiters and Waitresses $46,610 $22.41 610
Billing and Posting Clerks $46,600 $22.41 200
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $46,530 $22.37 220
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $46,220 $22.22 210
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,840 $22.04 390
Customer Service Representatives $45,200 $21.73 680
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $44,960 $21.61 400
Nursing Assistants $39,910 $19.19 450
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers $39,360 $18.92 340
Receptionists and Information Clerks $38,240 $18.38 380
Stockers and Order Fillers $38,120 $18.33 700
Cooks, Restaurant $37,870 $18.21 270
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $37,440 $18.00 260
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $37,250 $17.91 880
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term $37,200 $17.89 230
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $37,140 $17.86 260
Office Clerks, General $36,740 $17.67 710
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $36,700 $17.64 920
Childcare Workers $36,150 $17.38 310
Food Preparation Workers $35,990 $17.30 270
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $35,570 $17.10 250
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary $35,180 n/a 670
Retail Salespersons $35,010 $16.83 1,060
Cashiers $34,290 $16.48 940
Fast Food and Counter Workers $34,090 $16.39 920
Dishwashers $33,630 $16.17 200

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Ithaca by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 1,120 $127,430 n/a
Retail Salespersons 1,060 $35,010 $16.83
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 1,000 $138,030 n/a
Cashiers 940 $34,290 $16.48
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 920 $36,700 $17.64
Fast Food and Counter Workers 920 $34,090 $16.39
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 910 $47,700 $22.93
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 880 $37,250 $17.91
Registered Nurses 870 $103,290 $49.66
General and Operations Managers 810 $98,510 $47.36
Office Clerks, General 710 $36,740 $17.67
Stockers and Order Fillers 700 $38,120 $18.33
Customer Service Representatives 680 $45,200 $21.73
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 670 $35,180 n/a
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 630 $47,600 $22.89
Waiters and Waitresses 610 $46,610 $22.41
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants 580 $63,650 $30.60
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 540 $49,920 $24.00
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 520 $61,840 $29.73
Business Teachers, Postsecondary 460 $96,220 n/a

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other New York metro areas

Ithaca pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Ithaca?

The median across all occupations is $56,350, or $27.09 an hour, covering 48,030 wage and salary workers. The mean is $70,890, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Ithaca pay more than the rest of New York?

No. The metro median of $56,350 is 3.8% below the New York median of $58,560. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Ithaca?

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary ($138,030), Education Administrators, Postsecondary ($134,250), Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary ($127,430). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Ithaca unusually full of?

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 36.63× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.