Wages by Occupation in Ithaca, NY

Pay and jobs by occupation in the Ithaca, NY metropolitan area (BLS, May 2025). BLS counts about 47,980 jobs across all occupations here, with a median annual wage of $58,130 for all occupations combined. 239 occupations have a published median wage in this area.

Education and earnings of residents

Who lives in the Ithaca, NY area and what they earn, by education, from federal survey data (not a measure of any one employer or college).

58.8% of adults 25 and over in this area have a bachelor’s degree or higher (±2.2), compared with 35.7% nationally.

Prices of goods and services here run at 103.3 when the whole U.S. is 100 (housing 128.4; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024; estimates are revised). A higher number means prices are higher on average, not that the area is better or worse.

About 27,331 residents (26.7% of those 3 and older; U.S. 6.6%) are enrolled in college or graduate school, at any school (±1,097; ACS 2020-2024, Table B14001).

The unemployment rate in this area averaged 3.5% in 2025, with a labor force of about 48,486 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted annual average; estimates are model-based and revised).

69.5% of adults 25 to 34 have a bachelor’s degree or higher (±4.3), compared with 39.6% nationally (Table B15001).

Median yearly earnings by education, adults 25 and over who have earnings

Education	This area	United States
Less than high school	—	$32,485
High school graduate	$38,516	$40,153
Some college or associate's degree	$42,224	$47,260
Bachelor's degree	$57,159	$70,044
Graduate or professional degree	$73,112	$90,720

What residents with a bachelor’s degree studied

Field of first major	This area	United States
Science and engineering	49.7%	36.1%
Science and engineering related fields	8.0%	10.0%
Business	7.7%	20.1%
Education	6.7%	10.9%
Arts, humanities and other	27.8%	23.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, Tables B15003, B20004 (earnings shown only when the margin of error is at most 20% of the value), B23006 (unemployment shown only when every margin is at most 3 points), B17003 (margins of error at the 90% level; poverty shown only when every margin is at most 8 points) and C15010 (the Census Bureau’s own field groups, in a fixed order, not ranked). Describes residents of the area, not a prediction for any person; the Census Bureau has not endorsed this presentation. MajorPays does not provide advice.

Wages by occupation

Occupation	Jobs	Median annual wage	Mean annual wage	Jobs per 1,000 jobs here	Concentration vs. U.S.
Accountants and Auditors	370	$83,800	$90,940	7.65	0.82
Administrative Services Managers	90	$127,610	$132,160	1.78	1.05
Animal Caretakers	100	$36,930	$38,220	2.03	1.18
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval	50	$96,920	$111,970	0.94	1.37
Architectural and Civil Drafters	40	$66,690	$74,550	0.91	1.36
Architectural and Engineering Managers	50	$166,530	$167,880	0.99	0.70
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	670	$102,910	$116,500	13.99	23.26
Audio and Video Technicians	50	$62,510	$60,290	1.03	2.28
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants	30	$36,590	$38,800	0.68	1.04
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	190	$48,820	$52,400	4.01	0.88
Bakers	120	$35,970	$39,470	2.41	1.59
Bartenders	280	$44,040	$51,470	5.88	1.21
Billing and Posting Clerks	180	$48,060	$50,710	3.69	1.42
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary	140	$100,880	$123,070	2.93	9.07
Biological Scientists, All Other	50	$88,610	$100,340	1.01	2.80
Biological Technicians	80	$60,900	$54,950	1.75	3.91
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks	490	$51,610	$54,360	10.22	1.16
Budget Analysts	30	$77,550	$91,360	0.66	2.16
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	70	$61,500	$60,090	1.50	0.81
Bus Drivers, School	220	$54,620	$54,300	4.55	1.76
Business Operations Specialists, All Other	90	$77,830	$86,600	1.88	0.27
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	380	$91,400	$106,780	7.82	14.80
Buyers and Purchasing Agents	120	$65,520	$72,330	2.46	0.78
Cardiologists	60	$239,200 or more	$239,200 or more	1.18	10.63
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary	30	$70,160	$72,760	0.72	0.98
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School	70	$79,080	$75,990	1.47	2.06
Carpenters	190	$60,680	$63,750	3.96	0.92
Cashiers	810	$35,470	$36,140	16.81	0.85
Chefs and Head Cooks	80	$64,010	$68,230	1.64	1.28
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary	60	$97,550	$99,290	1.25	9.73
Chemists	30	$91,330	$93,780	0.62	1.17
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	120	$60,120	$62,090	2.49	0.98
Childcare Workers	290	$37,410	$38,090	6.06	1.82
Civil Engineers	50	$97,550	$101,590	1.01	0.43
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators	30	$72,030	$83,040	0.65	0.31
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment	170	$35,690	$37,210	3.61	1.48
Clergy	40	$58,750	$63,590	0.86	2.33
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	50	$117,860	$124,260	0.94	1.93
Coaches and Scouts	180	$51,140	$57,700	3.75	2.34
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary	110	$83,890	$92,470	2.27	12.00
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other	130	$75,860	$76,040	2.71	3.92
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists	50	$77,960	$79,830	1.07	1.48
Compliance Officers	100	$67,530	$78,060	2.18	0.81
Computer and Information Systems Managers	190	$168,410	$186,830	3.91	0.91
Computer Network Architects	50	$105,990	$120,330	1.02	0.88
Computer Network Support Specialists	40	$74,420	$71,380	0.82	0.88
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary	50	$95,850	$105,050	0.96	4.20
Computer Systems Analysts	90	$93,740	$95,230	1.83	0.55
Computer User Support Specialists	230	$62,160	$63,440	4.73	1.03
Construction and Building Inspectors	50	$64,070	$67,860	0.99	1.05
Construction Laborers	130	$46,790	$50,110	2.72	0.39
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria	190	$46,870	$45,070	3.94	1.39
Cooks, Restaurant	350	$39,280	$41,360	7.30	0.80
Cooks, Short Order	130	$36,200	$37,870	2.67	2.99
Counter and Rental Clerks	100	$42,590	$48,080	2.16	0.84
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks	50	$56,740	$57,170	1.05	0.91
Credit Counselors	40	$62,750	$64,600	0.80	4.48
Customer Service Representatives	650	$45,390	$46,710	13.48	0.81
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	70	$50,980	$51,310	1.49	1.35
Data Scientists	140	$74,170	$89,370	2.85	1.69
Dental Assistants	100	$48,170	$49,110	2.14	0.86
Dental Hygienists	60	$96,620	$93,170	1.31	0.91
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	50	$102,660	$100,740	1.07	1.85
Dietitians and Nutritionists	30	$77,220	$79,150	0.66	1.33
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	320	$35,700	$37,570	6.62	1.90
Dishwashers	210	$35,170	$35,940	4.31	1.41
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance	40	$43,890	$49,490	0.86	0.66
Driver/Sales Workers	80	$36,010	$41,370	1.70	0.64
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	70	$121,910	$117,360	1.54	0.73
Education Administrators, Postsecondary	230	$132,470	$157,980	4.90	4.22
Education Teachers, Postsecondary	190	$92,870	$106,960	3.98	10.18
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors	230	$62,100	$65,640	4.84	2.13
Electrical Engineers	60	$105,840	$117,080	1.25	0.98
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers	60	$45,390	$47,440	1.25	0.79
Electricians	100	$70,720	$69,530	2.02	0.42
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	460	$63,610	$70,620	9.53	1.07
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs	50	$63,650	$61,920	0.99	0.99
Emergency Medical Technicians	50	$41,710	$44,780	1.10	0.94
Engineers, All Other	30	$103,890	$105,850	0.67	0.67
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	170	$78,440	$84,130	3.53	9.51
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	50	$78,790	$81,590	1.14	1.98
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	590	$69,310	$70,270	12.21	4.13
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors	150	$47,670	$51,540	3.08	1.48
Facilities Managers	50	$115,260	$124,200	1.12	1.12
Family Medicine Physicians	40	$268,170	$226,290	0.81	1.17
Fast Food and Counter Workers	870	$34,800	$36,430	18.11	0.73
Financial and Investment Analysts	90	$85,430	$91,950	1.98	0.85
Financial Managers	210	$152,410	$177,150	4.42	0.82
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers	90	$77,860	$78,940	1.95	0.37
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers	350	$46,780	$50,090	7.39	0.94
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers	70	$60,840	$60,660	1.38	1.20
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers	160	$78,280	$81,640	3.35	0.84
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers	40	$80,030	$105,780	0.85	0.62
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	550	$73,640	$72,680	11.44	1.24
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers	60	$61,140	$63,670	1.31	1.78
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	40	$105,980	$104,820	0.89	0.89
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	100	$78,260	$81,930	2.16	0.50
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers	260	$50,110	$55,560	5.33	0.74
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	110	$56,780	$58,830	2.34	0.58
Food Preparation Workers	280	$36,140	$37,860	5.75	1.00
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant	120	$40,240	$39,770	2.44	1.29
Fundraisers	110	$73,590	$77,980	2.24	3.13
Fundraising Managers	50	$127,610	$156,920	0.99	3.98
General and Operations Managers	770	$103,220	$127,580	16.00	0.71
General Internal Medicine Physicians	120	$370,320	$295,020	2.46	5.71
Graphic Designers	40	$61,250	$66,330	0.76	0.59
Health Education Specialists	40	$60,420	$63,230	0.84	1.99
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	1,140	$159,720	$201,560	23.75	16.69
Healthcare Social Workers	90	$62,570	$68,130	1.97	1.63
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other	80	$55,460	$52,350	1.67	2.37
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	120	$64,690	$66,040	2.52	0.95
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	190	$56,130	$58,720	3.94	0.30
Highway Maintenance Workers	100	$56,770	$55,010	2.07	2.08
History Teachers, Postsecondary	40	$99,940	$108,790	0.84	6.98
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	780	$39,220	$42,340	16.35	0.59
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	70	$34,690	$38,430	1.44	0.52
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks	100	$35,990	$38,310	2.12	1.26
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping	70	$52,140	$54,340	1.40	2.42
Human Resources Managers	50	$164,420	$164,350	0.95	0.67
Human Resources Specialists	200	$75,270	$84,270	4.19	0.71
Industrial Engineers	60	$106,830	$114,990	1.19	0.51
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	40	$63,650	$73,470	0.76	0.27
Industrial Production Managers	30	$146,500	$147,860	0.68	0.43
Information Security Analysts	30	$106,360	$124,570	0.63	0.51
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	110	$47,880	$48,860	2.24	0.58
Instructional Coordinators	250	$70,940	$76,510	5.29	3.61
Insurance Sales Agents	50	$59,840	$82,890	0.94	0.30
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan	50	$49,660	$49,020	1.06	1.11
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	840	$38,060	$41,390	17.44	1.23
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand	280	$40,590	$43,320	5.76	0.30
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers	270	$42,720	$43,830	5.65	0.92
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	40	$35,960	$37,080	0.74	0.58
Lawyers	130	$135,610	$160,930	2.65	0.55
Legal Support Workers, All Other	40	$92,000	$96,760	0.82	2.74
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists	110	$78,460	$75,600	2.23	2.59
Library Assistants, Clerical	50	$37,800	$41,670	0.98	1.79
Library Technicians	50	$62,960	$56,490	1.10	2.50
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	220	$64,730	$65,160	4.54	1.09
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	160	$46,640	$51,240	3.42	7.20
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	70	$34,430	$34,570	1.36	1.34
Light Truck Drivers	200	$39,520	$45,620	4.24	0.67
Loan Officers	60	$75,060	$90,820	1.34	0.76
Machinists	120	$62,810	$63,980	2.43	1.32
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	240	$36,010	$39,930	5.09	0.92
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	600	$48,870	$53,200	12.46	1.27
Management Analysts	130	$89,630	$94,940	2.61	0.45
Managers, All Other	60	$115,290	$129,130	1.22	0.30
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists	240	$78,810	$86,800	4.95	0.86
Marketing Managers	70	$167,480	$174,750	1.55	0.61
Massage Therapists	40	$80,340	$74,090	0.85	1.35
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary	100	$93,970	$91,550	2.04	6.64
Mechanical Engineers	70	$99,990	$109,230	1.40	0.73
Medical and Health Services Managers	—	$128,050	$137,280	—	—
Medical Assistants	390	$53,760	$49,040	8.10	1.54
Medical Records Specialists	110	$56,830	$58,080	2.27	1.81
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	70	$64,150	$66,550	1.51	1.65
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers	70	$78,220	$85,820	1.39	1.62
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	180	$79,520	$80,730	3.85	0.97
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	150	$89,440	$95,380	3.12	1.54
Nurse Practitioners	270	$136,980	$143,840	5.71	2.75
Nursing Assistants	470	$45,640	$45,170	9.75	1.05
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	40	$83,020	$85,110	0.85	0.94
Occupational Therapists	60	$102,910	$99,060	1.18	1.13
Office Clerks, General	860	$37,380	$41,260	18.01	1.14
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	50	$54,820	$62,030	1.14	0.37
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians	60	$55,570	$52,820	1.30	2.84
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric	40	$239,200 or more	$239,200 or more	0.77	8.48
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	40	$37,520	$41,550	0.86	0.35
Painters, Construction and Maintenance	40	$59,110	$58,760	0.88	0.61
Paralegals and Legal Assistants	80	$60,550	$63,570	1.76	0.70
Parts Salespersons	50	$37,110	$42,640	1.04	0.60
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks	40	$51,030	$56,130	0.78	0.79
Personal Financial Advisors	40	$130,940	$153,670	0.92	0.53
Pharmacists	40	$151,780	$141,370	0.91	0.44
Pharmacy Technicians	60	$45,090	$45,840	1.23	0.41
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary	50	$101,260	$119,320	1.07	8.16
Phlebotomists	30	$47,680	$48,600	0.71	0.77
Physical Therapists	110	$101,290	$102,620	2.20	1.28
Physician Assistants	230	$138,920	$143,860	4.82	4.62
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	70	$64,460	$72,450	1.37	0.46
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	200	$84,320	$80,520	4.10	0.95
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary	60	$97,240	$122,770	1.32	12.10
Postal Service Mail Carriers	110	$61,540	$63,180	2.21	1.04
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	130	$45,980	$47,000	2.67	0.87
Producers and Directors	50	$65,410	$75,160	1.14	1.23
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	160	$59,990	$61,700	3.41	1.36
Project Management Specialists	240	$96,870	$101,220	4.97	0.73
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers	30	$69,320	$80,290	0.71	0.36
Psychiatrists	40	$280,210	$213,480	0.87	4.84
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary	110	$93,500	$96,490	2.23	8.34
Public Relations Managers	30	$128,400	$157,360	0.68	1.42
Public Relations Specialists	170	$67,260	$75,020	3.54	1.94
Public Safety Telecommunicators	30	$66,250	$63,780	0.69	1.05
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	100	$95,460	$89,230	2.18	1.47
Receptionists and Information Clerks	300	$39,400	$42,250	6.21	1.06
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary	40	$84,820	$93,130	0.79	9.72
Recreation Workers	170	$34,770	$39,710	3.57	1.68
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors	50	$51,320	$51,640	1.10	1.16
Registered Nurses	940	$100,320	$101,390	19.61	0.90
Residential Advisors	90	$53,760	$54,430	1.97	3.62
Retail Salespersons	1,170	$35,510	$38,290	24.41	0.97
Sales Managers	70	$156,140	$169,240	1.43	0.35
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel	200	$61,930	$76,450	4.17	0.52
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	120	$68,240	$86,850	2.58	0.32
School Psychologists	40	$78,930	$81,940	0.74	1.80
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	240	$73,960	$76,940	4.93	0.72
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	900	$47,990	$49,730	18.68	1.70
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents	60	$82,510	$103,040	1.21	0.38
Security Guards	240	$49,540	$49,800	4.98	0.60
Self-Enrichment Teachers	160	$50,860	$57,770	3.34	1.57
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks	110	$44,810	$47,610	2.22	0.42
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs	70	$37,550	$40,180	1.53	0.96
Social and Community Service Managers	140	$81,810	$90,070	2.87	2.14
Social and Human Service Assistants	310	$53,550	$54,530	6.49	2.30
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	40	$69,660	$78,380	0.83	3.47
Social Workers, All Other	80	$79,940	$77,340	1.60	3.96
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary	40	$86,150	$91,170	0.75	9.79
Software Developers	310	$122,730	$136,090	6.52	0.60
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	40	$94,990	$99,610	0.88	0.74
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	80	$61,910	$70,540	1.75	1.04
Special Education Teachers, Middle School	40	$75,860	$77,070	0.92	1.50
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	90	$70,510	$73,070	1.87	1.78
Speech-Language Pathologists	60	$81,450	$95,570	1.22	1.04
Stockers and Order Fillers	670	$38,810	$41,690	13.98	0.77
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors	200	$65,010	$65,820	4.19	1.32
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	240	$37,820	$43,220	4.94	1.46
Surgical Technologists	30	$77,760	$76,460	0.63	0.84
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	690	$37,420	$40,330	14.39	1.57
Tellers	120	$40,020	$41,460	2.46	1.16
Training and Development Specialists	140	$66,690	$71,410	2.91	0.99
Tutors	100	$44,900	$55,920	2.16	1.92
Veterinarians	60	$131,870	$134,260	1.21	2.24
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers	90	$43,900	$42,720	1.77	2.18
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians	80	$56,420	$55,550	1.61	1.94
Waiters and Waitresses	620	$46,090	$51,830	13.00	0.89
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	40	$61,360	$62,710	0.74	0.90
Web and Digital Interface Designers	40	$125,810	$129,110	0.81	1.11
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	30	$54,170	$55,300	0.62	0.23
Word Processors and Typists	40	$46,810	$48,380	0.82	3.65

Colleges in this area

3 colleges in the federal directory have a campus in this area, listed alphabetically; MajorPays does not rank colleges. Each name links to the college’s profile.

College	Type	Level	Students, fall 2024
Cornell University	Private nonprofit	4-year or above	26,793
Ithaca College	Private nonprofit	4-year or above	4,767
Tompkins Cortland Community College	Public	2-year	4,958

Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS directory (HD 2024, core-based statistical area of the campus) and Fall Enrollment 2024 (total headcount). A count of students is the size of the college, not its quality; the Department has not endorsed this presentation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, metropolitan area estimates (cross-industry, all ownerships). Wages are pay for all workers in an occupation in this area, not any one person or employer; a dash means BLS does not publish the figure (often to protect privacy or because the estimate is unreliable), and “or more” marks a wage at or above BLS’s top reporting limit. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of jobs in this area divided by its share nationally (1.00 = the same share as the U.S.; above 1.00 = a larger share); it says nothing about pay or openings. Jobs per 1,000 is the occupation's jobs per 1,000 jobs of all kinds in this area. Occupations that BLS reports only as hourly wages are not listed, and BLS shows some wages above its top limit as plain numbers while others read “or more”. Occupations are listed alphabetically; click a heading to sort. MajorPays does not rank places or occupations. MajorPays selected and reorganized these figures; the Bureau of Labor Statistics has not approved or endorsed this presentation. MajorPays does not provide advice. See Data sources.

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