Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
64 Highest Paying Jobs in New York, NY (2026)
The highest-paying job in New York, NY, New York is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a median salary of $329,750 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 64 tracked occupations the average median is $134,711, with 52 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. New York, NY has a cost-of-living index of 187.2 (national average = 100), so a $134,711 nominal salary equals $71,961 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 64 occupations below are ranked by median wage in New York, NY, NY, from BLS OEWS data. New York, NY's cost-of-living index runs 187.2 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within New York, NY, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in New York, NY
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to New York, NY's cost-of-living index of 187.2 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $329,750 · 10th–90th $85,170–$444,380 · 2,470 jobs in metro
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in New York, NY earn $329,750 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $444,380. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $176,149 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $249,150 · 10th–90th $62,090–$403,430 · 4,870 jobs in metro
Family Medicine Physicians in New York, NY earn $249,150 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $403,430. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $133,093 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $221,010 · 10th–90th $133,940–$371,170 · 89,960 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in New York, NY earn $221,010 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $371,170. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $118,061 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $216,040 · 10th–90th $82,210–$343,610 · 4,510 jobs in metro
Pediatricians in New York, NY earn $216,040 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $343,610. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $115,406 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $215,300 · 10th–90th $139,610–$322,410 · 62,430 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in New York, NY earn $215,300 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $322,410. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $115,011 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $215,150 · 10th–90th $109,210–$368,210 · 44,870 jobs in metro
Sales Managers in New York, NY earn $215,150 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $368,210. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $114,931 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $208,880 · 10th–90th $94,070–$391,620 · 94,610 jobs in metro
Lawyers in New York, NY earn $208,880 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $391,620. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $111,581 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $192,840 · 10th–90th $116,040–$324,990 · 54,730 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in New York, NY earn $192,840 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $324,990. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $103,013 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $190,010 · 10th–90th $75,680–$367,140 · 7,240 jobs in metro
Dentists in New York, NY earn $190,010 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $367,140. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $101,501 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $185,100 · 10th–90th $107,300–$323,820 · 18,480 jobs in metro
Human Resources Managers in New York, NY earn $185,100 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $323,820. Adjusted for the local cost of living, that median equals $98,878 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Full Ranking (64 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $329,750 | $85,170–$444,380 | $176,149 | 2,470 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $249,150 | $62,090–$403,430 | $133,093 | 4,870 |
| 3 | Financial Manager | Finance | $221,010 | $133,940–$371,170 | $118,061 | 89,960 |
| 4 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $216,040 | $82,210–$343,610 | $115,406 | 4,510 |
| 5 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $215,300 | $139,610–$322,410 | $115,011 | 62,430 |
| 6 | Sales Manager | Management | $215,150 | $109,210–$368,210 | $114,931 | 44,870 |
| 7 | Lawyer | Legal | $208,880 | $94,070–$391,620 | $111,581 | 94,610 |
| 8 | Marketing Manager | Management | $192,840 | $116,040–$324,990 | $103,013 | 54,730 |
| 9 | Dentist | Healthcare | $190,010 | $75,680–$367,140 | $101,501 | 7,240 |
| 10 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $185,100 | $107,300–$323,820 | $98,878 | 18,480 |
| 11 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $170,890 | $94,550–$314,130 | $91,287 | 2,100 |
| 12 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $170,050 | $81,520–$420,630 | $90,839 | 23,980 |
| 13 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $167,650 | $124,470–$207,000 | $89,557 | 16,800 |
| 14 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $167,580 | $102,450–$348,010 | $89,519 | 35,260 |
| 15 | Software Developer | Technology | $166,830 | $101,690–$224,590 | $89,119 | 121,000 |
| 16 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $163,340 | $132,490–$202,940 | $87,254 | 21,680 |
| 17 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $163,010 | $101,240–$216,880 | $87,078 | 10,230 |
| 18 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $161,030 | $104,730–$203,050 | $86,020 | 2,580 |
| 19 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $157,000 | $71,030–$364,770 | $83,868 | 177,850 |
| 20 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $156,150 | $101,450–$293,790 | $83,413 | 3,150 |
| 21 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $141,320 | $96,010–$175,840 | $75,491 | 20,000 |
| 22 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $140,470 | $86,860–$216,280 | $75,037 | 11,330 |
| 23 | Statistician | Technology | $137,510 | $79,400–$208,700 | $73,456 | 1,460 |
| 24 | Data Scientist | Technology | $135,980 | $79,870–$216,030 | $72,639 | 23,160 |
| 25 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $135,300 | $82,450–$197,490 | $72,276 | 5,780 |
| 26 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $133,380 | $78,560–$217,430 | $71,250 | 13,400 |
| 27 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $130,540 | $75,490–$181,330 | $69,733 | 11,460 |
| 28 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $128,930 | $79,340–$225,390 | $68,873 | 53,870 |
| 29 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $128,340 | $78,000–$179,110 | $68,558 | 26,540 |
| 30 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $128,340 | $81,440–$171,030 | $68,558 | 6,290 |
| 31 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $126,910 | $56,330–$212,380 | $67,794 | 16,230 |
| 32 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $126,750 | $76,000–$173,900 | $67,708 | 6,670 |
| 33 | Management Analyst | Management | $124,390 | $66,430–$210,390 | $66,448 | 67,630 |
| 34 | Database Architect | Technology | $121,550 | $70,890–$185,400 | $64,931 | 3,630 |
| 35 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $119,720 | $87,180–$159,240 | $63,953 | 197,740 |
| 36 | Network Architect | Technology | $119,390 | $75,810–$171,470 | $63,777 | 17,690 |
| 37 | Web Developer | Technology | $119,190 | $64,360–$204,510 | $63,670 | 14,990 |
| 38 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $115,070 | $90,730–$140,380 | $61,469 | 530 |
| 39 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $109,990 | $79,520–$165,010 | $58,755 | 6,960 |
| 40 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $109,720 | $85,460–$126,640 | $58,611 | 14,230 |
| 41 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $107,860 | $73,530–$167,210 | $57,618 | 15,260 |
| 42 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $107,650 | $75,390–$141,870 | $57,505 | 21,240 |
| 43 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $107,330 | $78,250–$176,400 | $57,334 | 15,590 |
| 44 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $105,840 | $78,270–$162,390 | $56,538 | 8,540 |
| 45 | Accountant | Finance | $105,650 | $71,850–$174,750 | $56,437 | 111,930 |
| 46 | Web Designer | Technology | $104,820 | $48,610–$180,480 | $55,994 | 4,200 |
| 47 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $104,770 | $49,140–$206,400 | $55,967 | 6,840 |
| 48 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $103,110 | $64,170–$174,310 | $55,080 | 6,890 |
| 49 | Loan Officer | Finance | $101,570 | $58,860–$208,610 | $54,257 | 10,350 |
| 50 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $101,460 | $72,380–$144,090 | $54,199 | 11,640 |
| 51 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $100,800 | $63,480–$136,340 | $53,846 | 75,780 |
| 52 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $100,520 | $60,400–$166,880 | $53,697 | 79,290 |
| 53 | Architect | Engineering | $99,710 | $65,500–$168,490 | $53,264 | 10,240 |
| 54 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $96,930 | $49,440–$133,110 | $51,779 | 16,220 |
| 55 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $96,900 | $62,530–$136,330 | $51,763 | 98,900 |
| 56 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $86,930 | $52,230–$138,410 | $46,437 | 6,330 |
| 57 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $84,130 | $55,410–$162,170 | $44,941 | 24,820 |
| 58 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $79,280 | $47,490–$132,520 | $42,350 | 15,160 |
| 59 | Electrician | Trades | $79,020 | $46,170–$132,170 | $42,212 | 36,550 |
| 60 | Plumber | Trades | $78,610 | $47,870–$145,480 | $41,993 | 21,040 |
| 61 | Paralegal | Legal | $75,330 | $49,180–$121,170 | $40,240 | 33,850 |
| 62 | Carpenter | Trades | $74,300 | $46,860–$123,810 | $39,690 | 34,210 |
| 63 | Welder | Trades | $61,680 | $44,890–$95,920 | $32,949 | 5,780 |
| 64 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $57,760 | $34,740–$94,320 | $30,855 | 28,420 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in New York, NY
New York, NY's economy is unusually concentrated in finance, legal services, and corporate management — three of the highest-paying occupational families in the BLS catalog. The presence of large investment banks, top-tier law firms, and Fortune 500 headquarters pulls the upper percentiles materially above the national average for these roles, while the city's enormous labor pool keeps mid- and lower-percentile pay close to national norms.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
New York, NY's cost-of-living index of 187.2 is among the highest tracked anywhere. Roughly 50% of nominal salary gains relative to a national-average metro are absorbed by housing alone; an additional 5–15% is consumed by transportation, food, and services. The COL-Adjusted column in the table above translates each nominal salary back to "what would buy this much in an average-cost metro" — that is the right benchmark for a cross-city comparison.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Obstetrician/Gynecologist with five-plus years of experience in New York, NY should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($387,065) or 90th percentile ($444,380), not the $329,750 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $330K Obstetrician/Gynecologist salary in New York, NY (COL 187.2) translates to $176K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Obstetrician/Gynecologist in New York, NY page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in New York, NY is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a median salary of $329,750 and a 90th-percentile reading of $444,380. The role employs roughly 2,470 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
52 of the 64 BLS-tracked occupations in New York, NY have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 64 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in New York, NY is $134,711. The cost-of-living index is 187.2, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $71,961 in equivalent purchasing power.
New York, NY offers high nominal salaries — the average median is $134,711 — but the cost of living index of 187.2 consumes a meaningful share of that premium. The COL-adjusted average is $71,961, which is the right comparison when weighing offers in lower-cost metros.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.