What pays what here
New York-Newark-Jersey City, spanning two states, all experience levels (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
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| Occupation | Jobs in metro | 10th percentile | Median here | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand laborers and material movers | 118,290 | $16.59 | $20.81 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and order fillers | 131,080 | $16.48 | $18.56 | $17.95 |
| Forklift and industrial truck operators | 24,720 | $17.88 | $22.56 | $22.32 |
| Light truck drivers | 58,140 | $17.38 | $22.81 | $21.57 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 65,100 | $24.25 | $31.27 | $28.19 |
| Retail salespersons | 202,080 | $16.67 | $18.40 | $17.03 |
| Cashiers | 173,830 | $15.79 | $17.28 | $15.81 |
| Customer service representatives | 125,570 | $17.75 | $23.84 | $21.53 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 644,700 | $17.77 | $19.08 | $17.21 |
| Nursing assistants | 79,480 | $20.79 | $23.69 | $20.32 |
| Medical assistants | 44,060 | $17.98 | $23.26 | $21.97 |
| Construction laborers | 50,870 | $16.50 | $29.46 | $22.66 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 50,410 | $17.04 | $21.89 | $18.82 |
| Helpers, electricians | 4,660 | $16.96 | $22.98 | $20.51 |
| Electricians | 36,550 | $22.20 | $37.99 | $30.38 |
| HVAC mechanics and installers | 21,820 | $24.37 | $37.50 | $29.33 |
Home care is the giant: 644,700 aides at a $19.08 median. On January 1 the downstate minimum for aides reaches $20, or $800 for 40 hours, against $763.20 at that median. See home health aide pay. Construction laborers range widely, from $16.50 at the 10th percentile to a $29.46 median, so ask. Other metros: pay benchmarks.
Local pay rules: which side of the line?
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| Where you work | Minimum | Tipped food service cash wage | January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, Long Island, Westchester | $17.00 | $11.35 | No change |
| Rest of New York State | $16.00 | $10.70 | No change |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $6.05 | $16.48 |
New York DOL, read October 31, 2026; U.S. DOL, July 1, 2026; New Jersey DOL, September 29, 2026; minimum wage by state.
An off-ramp in state law blocked the 2027 raise. The governor's proposed fix is not law. At 40 hours, $17 pays $680, against $659.20 at New Jersey's 2027 rate. Manual workers in New York must be paid weekly; others twice a month (U.S. DOL, revised January 1, 2023; pay frequency laws).
Local rights inside the five boroughs
These city laws cover work in the five boroughs, regardless of immigration status (DCWP, read October 31, 2026).
Protected Time Off. At 5 or more workers, you get 40 paid hours a year if your employer has 99 or fewer, 56 if it has 100 or more. Add 32 unpaid hours from your first day and 20 paid hours of prenatal leave.
Fair Workweek, fast food. Regular schedules, 14 days' notice, extra pay for changes, the right to refuse closing then opening, and no firing without just cause or a legitimate business reason.
Fair Workweek, retail. Schedules 72 hours ahead, no on-call shifts, no canceling within 72 hours, and no forced work on under 72 hours' notice unless you agree.
Delivery apps. Restaurant and grocery apps owe at least $22.13 an hour before tips. It rises each April 1.
Freelancers. Work worth $800 or more in 120 days needs a written contract stating the job, pay and pay date.
Job postings. Most employers must state a pay range and cannot ask your salary history. Conviction history is protected in many cases (ban the box laws).
State pay extras. Call-in pay if sent home early, and spread of hours pay when your day runs over 10 hours. Meal rules: break laws.
Who to call. City: 311, and name the law, or DCWP online. State: New York DOL, 888-525-2267. New Jersey: (609) 292-2305; state law there gives 1 sick hour per 30 worked, up to 40 a year. More: unpaid wages.
Free local help
Workforce1 has 18 centers, free to anyone 18 or older who may legally work in the U.S. To start, visit nyc.gov/getwork or call 311. SBS lists no direct line per center (read October 31, 2026).
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| Center | Address |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 9 Bond St., 5th Floor, 11201 |
| Bronx | 400 E. Fordham Rd., 8th Floor (Webster Ave. entrance), 10458 |
| Healthcare, Manhattan | 14 Wall St., 17th Floor, 10005 |
| Queens | 168-25 Jamaica Ave., 2nd Floor, 11432 |
| Staten Island | 120 Stuyvesant Pl., 3rd Floor, 10301 |
Upper Manhattan is at 215 W. 125th St. Warehouse, driving or trades? Ask for an Industrial & Transportation center, such as Brooklyn Army Terminal, 140 58th St.
Training money. Individual Training Grants pay tuition, fees, testing and books for short programs under a year. You need a GED or diploma, must be job hunting or earn under $91,000, and face a skills test and interview. SBS calls the process "highly selective" and posts no dollar cap. City programs recruiting on October 27 included Cable Installation and HVAC Pre-Apprenticeship, for city residents earning under $63,925. More: free job help.
Getting there on the MTA
The subway and local bus cost $3. Tap with one card or phone, and you pay no more than $35 in 7 days. MetroCards can no longer be bought or refilled (MTA, read October 31, 2026). The fare page lists no monthly pass, so budget by ride: 44 rides over 22 workdays cost $132, or 7.8 hours of pay at $17.
Fair Fares NYC. City residents 18 to 64 under the income limit pay half: $1.50 a ride, no more than $17.50 a week (MTA). That cuts $132 to $66. The limit is $23,940 for one person and $49,500 for four (ACCESS NYC, updated October 13, 2026). Full time at $17 is $35,360, over the one-person limit. Twenty-five hours a week is $22,100, under it. The Council says funding will lift eligibility to 200% of the poverty level, with no date stated (September 24, 2026). Apply at nyc.gov/fairfares; the card can take three weeks.
Who employs people here
September is preliminary (BLS Economy at a Glance, extracted October 30, 2026). Unemployment was 4.5%.
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| Sector | Jobs, September 2026 | Change over 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 10,019,900 | +0.2% |
| Education and health services | 2,360,700 | +2.5% |
| Professional and business services | 1,621,900 | +0.4% |
| Trade, transportation and utilities | 1,583,800 | -0.5% |
| Government | 1,315,500 | +0.0% |
| Leisure and hospitality | 923,200 | -1.3% |
| Financial activities | 825,600 | -0.3% |
| Mining, logging and construction | 383,500 | -1.0% |
| Manufacturing | 322,700 | -1.0% |
Education and health is the largest group and grew 2.5%; leisure and hospitality shrank 1.3%. The Port Authority reports over 39,000 people employed at JFK, about 21,700 at Newark and more than 12,000 at LaGuardia (2024 Airport Traffic Report), across many companies.
Job fairs and hiring events
JobPin's New York hub lists the December 10 New York Job Fair, venue to confirm. Best Hire's own page calls it virtual, 10 AM to 2 PM, so check first. Others (read October 31, 2026):
- Jobs NYC events, 2 Lafayette St.: FDNY EMT roles on Monday, November 2, 10 AM to 12:30 PM. NYC Children's Special Officer and youth roles on Wednesday, November 4, 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
- Long Island Job Fair: Thursday, November 5, 11 AM to 2 PM, Holiday Inn Westbury, 369 Old Country Road.
Prepare: how to get hired at a job fair.
A plan for this week
- Monday, November 2: want EMT work? Go to 2 Lafayette St. at 10 AM. Otherwise, enroll at nyc.gov/getwork.
- Tuesday: contact your borough's center. Ask, "Do I qualify for an Individual Training Grant, and when is the next orientation?"
- Wednesday: check Fair Fares eligibility online. Your income may qualify if you are part time. Youth work? See the NYC Children session.
- Thursday: if you can reach Westbury, go to the Long Island fair at 11 AM with printed resumes.
- Friday: apply to five jobs. Ask for the range if a posting hides it. Keep your schedule; notice dates matter.
Current openings
On JobPin: retail, healthcare, customer service and remote jobs in New York.
Source-linked openings
Current source-linked listings could not be confirmed in this sample. Check the category search and each original posting for availability.
How to verify a listing
Under $17 in the city is a warning sign unless the job is tipped hospitality. So is a missing pay range. Open JobPin's source link, find the job on the employer's site, and check the state on the address. Our method: how JobPin verifies listings.
How JobPin dates and sources listings: How JobPin verifies listings and events. Report a listing.