New York is the largest city in the United States, forming a huge agglomeration. It is located on the western shore of the Atlantic Ocean, in the state of New York. This city appeared on the map at the beginning of the 17th century and was first called New Amsterdam. In this article we will answer the question: what is the average salary in New York? We will also consider the maximum and minimum salary levels.
The population of New York itself is 8 million 405 thousand 837 people. In total, the agglomeration is home to 20.6 million residents. The city has 5 administrative districts. A large number of financial institutions, economic, cultural and attractions are concentrated here. Politically, New York is inferior to Washington.
The average salary in New York is about 60 thousand dollars a year.
Population of New York
The population of this metropolis grew exponentially until 1940, when it reached 9 and a half million people. It then fluctuated and slowly increased in recent decades, but never reached the peak of 1940. The city's population density is 10.2 thousand people/km2. White residents in this metropolis make up 44.7% of the total number. In second place in terms of prevalence are representatives of people from Africa, and in third place are those from Asia.
The median American family has an income of $41,887, men have $37,435, women have $32,949, and the per capita income is $22,402 per year. A fifth of the population lives below the city's poverty line. Almost a third of the poor are under 18 years of age.
Economy of New York
New York is considered one of the most important economic centers in the United States and the world as a whole. Its gross domestic product exceeds a trillion dollars a year. The headquarters of financial and non-financial organizations and corporations are concentrated here.
Manufacturing activity plays a significant role in the economy. Although this role is gradually decreasing. The city has developed chemical, textile, food and engineering industries. Construction is of great importance. Computer technology and biotechnology are developing rapidly.
Life in New York
Salaries in New York (as well as prices) are significantly higher than the national average. However, they are far from the tallest in the world. Even in the USA there are cities with a higher standard of living (Chicago, Boston, San Francisco). Even higher average incomes occur in Canadian cities, and the highest in Western European cities.
The specifics of life in New York have much in common with life in the Russian capital. Transport problems and high rental costs are also acute here. The highest salaries are in Manhattan, but the cost of housing is also highest there, and there are also transportation difficulties. There are no ideal modes of transportation in New York. Taxis are very expensive ($12 per kilometer), the metro is crowded, and the car can get stuck in traffic. Real estate in New York is much more expensive than in Moscow.
The minimum wage in New York City is $8.75 per hour (as of 2021).
Unlike cities in Russia and other CIS countries, in New York the share of funds spent on food is very small.
Compared to the high difference in living standards between Moscow and the regions of the Russian Federation, the difference between New York and other US cities is not so pronounced, but is still significant. In addition, in the USA there are many large cities with a high level of development, while in our country Moscow stands out sharply from almost all the others.
Moving
My husband and I moved to the USA a year and a half ago, and before that we had never even been to New York: I didn’t want to leave Moscow to go on vacation to another metropolis. I travel a lot, but I have never lived abroad. Still, being a tourist and moving to a country for quite a long time are completely different things, and this is exactly the kind of experience I wanted. In Russia we had no problems, we were engaged in video production, I was the editor-in-chief of a commercial magazine, so I had long been accustomed to remote work. I was not afraid of moving, because I knew that it would not be for life - you can always return to Moscow - and nothing will change radically.
Initially, I thought that we would go to California, I have been there several times, and I have many friends and acquaintances there. But when we talked with the lawyer who helped with the visa application, she advised us to choose New York and said: “You’ve seen this city in all the films!” I heard different things from friends and acquaintances: some fell in love with the city at first sight, while others hated it, and I was only worried about the fact that I might not “get along” with New York. Probably, I had a difficult period only in the first week, while I was still recovering from jetlag, I didn’t understand where to buy groceries or what to do when your metro card doesn’t work.
I have an O1 visa - that is, for people with outstanding abilities in the field of business, science or art. This visa is issued for three years and allows you to work in the United States. With the help of a lawyer, I opened a company here: I am my own employer and employee, and I pay taxes in America. We shoot non-commercial videos, we go to the shooting ourselves, bring equipment, and edit them. You will have to pay from 6 to 10 thousand dollars to obtain a visa and the services of a lawyer.
When my husband and I moved, we had some savings, and we still have some. In New York, I live quite rationally - I compare the prices of things with the money I receive for projects. Sometimes I want to buy something expensive, and then I wonder if it is worth the effort I spent on work.
Minimum salary in a metropolis
The minimum wage for employees in New York is $10.4 per hour. A year earlier it was lower by $0.7. And by 2021, the minimum wage could reach $15 per hour. As for medium and large employers, they must pay their employees at least $13 per hour. For small companies the amount is $12. Minimum wage rates partly depend on the type of profession.
If an employee works overtime, the minimum wage must be a higher amount, for example, at least $14.05 per hour.
All of these figures are significantly higher than the federal minimum wage, which is only $7.25 per hour.
If the employer does not comply with the standards established by law and pays the employee less, then he may face a fine of 200% of the amount underpaid, and sometimes criminal liability.
Features of payroll in the USA
Official statistics show the amount earned per year. Most often, employees work according to a specific but variable schedule. Therefore, income depends on hours worked.
The minimum income is $7.50 per hour. But some states have their own laws that increase this figure. The highest $10 minimum rates are in Massachusetts, the District of Columbia and California.
How much people earn in the United States is influenced by a worker's race, gender, and ethnic background. If you take the average statistics - white men earn $997 per week, and blacks - 720. White women - 810, and blacks - 670. Age also matters. The highest incomes of US citizens are observed at the age of 45-54 years. The lowest paid group includes young people aged 16-24 years. Most often, people at this age do not get a full-time job. The most expensive positions include management.
How much you earn in the USA depends on the level of education:
- Having a school education allows you to count on $570 per week.
- A college degree entitles you to earn $700 or more.
- With a bachelor's degree you can earn approximately $1,300.
- A master's degree allows you to expect an income of 2.8-3.9 thousand dollars.
The income scale in this country is differentiated. Different taxes are deducted from different salaries. Incomes of the US population vary by profession. Highly paid industries include the medical field. Not only qualified doctors, but also junior staff can count on a good salary. Highly paid positions include executive directors and pilots.
Average salaries in New York by occupation
Unlike Russia, in America taxes are paid not by the employer, but by the employee. Therefore, when talking about the size of the average salary, we must keep in mind that in fact a person will receive a smaller amount, since he will be forced to give a certain percentage of it to official structures. The higher the salary, the higher the tax rate. In Russia there is no such difference. As a result of this smoothing effect, in the United States there are no such large disproportions in income as in our country. However, even so, there are still a significant number of very poor and very rich people there.
In 2021, the average salary in New York was $60.1 thousand per year (or $5,000 per month). An employee receives $28.9 per hour.
In the USA, and in New York in particular, there is a rather unusual distribution of salaries by profession. It is sharply different from ours. If our richest people are officials and managers, then, oddly enough, they are doctors. The fact is that in the USA, traditionally, medicine is very expensive. Therefore, a good qualified doctor is a very wealthy person who can afford a fairly luxurious life.
According to 2021 data, among physicians, anesthesiologists earn the most at $271,510 per year. Next comes the surgeon (239690). In third place is an orthodontist (234,900).
Executives in New York earn slightly less than doctors, but more than in other areas of the United States. After all, the offices of many prestigious companies are concentrated here. The average salary for an executive in New York is $217,650 per year, and for a financial manager is $205,500.
Lawyers ($165,260 per year), air traffic controllers ($129,460), pharmacists ($120,440), and pilots ($114,440) earn a lot.
Nutrition
Feeding a family of two - $600 per month
When I first went to the local Whole Foods, I thought that the money we had saved wouldn't be enough for anything. This is a store focused on healthy eating and organic products. But Costco is a great store for us. Large wholesale quantities are sold there - you cannot buy a kilogram of rice, only five. But they also sell products from the organic segment, kombucha, sometimes the same brands as Whole Foods, but they cost almost half as much.
The family spends about $600 a month on groceries. At the same time, we don’t sit on just rice, we buy steaks and shrimp. In New York, we started cooking and eating at home more. It’s just that in Moscow you can’t buy great asparagus inexpensively, but here you can buy a bag of excellent fresh asparagus for 4 dollars, and for 3 dollars you can buy a huge package of chia seeds, seafood, and cheeses. A carton of milk here costs about $1.14, a kilo of tomatoes costs about $5, a kilo of apples costs about $4, and 12 eggs costs $4.80.
Who gets the least?
At the other end of the list are service industry workers. The lowest average salary in New York for a cashier is $23,850 per year. By Russian standards, this is of course a very large figure (about 130 thousand rubles per month), but not for New York. The seller receives a little more - $28,110 per year. Almost the same number are cooks (28,740). Waiters and bartenders earn $31.3 thousand and $31.5 thousand, respectively. The average salary of a hairdresser is $32.74 thousand per year. The security guard has 34.39 thousand.
In the middle of the list are teachers ($80,940), police officers ($73,000), firefighters ($70,560), construction workers ($49,440), flight attendants ($44,270) and many other workers.
How much does a taxi driver earn in New York? Fifty thousand dollars a year.
Thus, average salaries in New York are very high, even in the lowest paying professions.
Salaries in New York for Russians and other migrants depend on their compliance with American laws, including immigration laws. In this case, in theory, there should be no difference in salary values from the above figures. In the USA, the laws are the same for everyone, and it is customary to comply with them.
Salaries of specialists
How much you can earn in the US depends on the qualifications of the workers, the specific industry and professional skills. The highest paying areas include the following areas: the aviation industry, the medical field, various types of entrepreneurial activities and work in banking institutions.
Let's look at how much representatives of different professions earn in America:
- Doctors receive decent earnings, exceeding the national average. The salary of a surgeon, prosthetist and anesthesiologist is especially good, varying between 170-200 thousand. A nurse's salary is approximately 40 thousand.
- The salary of a police officer in the USA depends on the area where the police station is located and on the length of service. The average is 40-70 thousand dollars.
- Managers earn approximately 40-90 thousand.
- The labor of qualified programmers is considered expensive - approximately 65 thousand. IT industry specialists can count on the amount of 130 thousand.
- Loaders, waiters, cleaners and service workers receive approximately 25 thousand per year.
- Specialists with pedagogical education are especially valued. A teacher's salary is 40-50 thousand. Certified teachers earn up to 150 thousand.
- Qualified engineers can earn at least $450,000 per year.
- The salary of an accountant varies between 34-70 thousand.
- An architect earns 44-105 thousand.
- A lawyer’s income is approximately 50-185 thousand.
- Business analysts earn 50-100 thousand.
- Computer designer – 30-60 thousand.
- An electrician's salary is 29-83 thousand.
- The salary of a truck driver is 20-54 thousand.
- The average salary of military personnel in the army is 100-120 thousand.
The salary level is determined by personal achievements and qualifications. All kinds of incentives are popular in America.
The average salary of state employees is 3.2 thousand dollars. Doctors who receive income from the state budget earn an average of $14,000 a month. And private practice gives 10-15% less.
Highly paid government professions include the position of judge. Salary varies between 5-45 thousand dollars.
In the household sector, average salaries are not particularly high. This sector includes housekeepers, gardeners and nannies. The minimum wage per hour is $8.00.
Progressive tax rate
In order to understand how much a worker in New York actually earns, simply information about the average salary is absolutely not enough. After all, in America, tax payments are quite high, and their amount depends on the income itself and is paid after the salary is paid.
If the salary is 9 and a half thousand dollars a year, then the income tax rate is only 10%. If the income is equal to 500 thousand dollars, then the rate is already 37%. Thus, in relation to small (by American standards) salaries, the income tax there is even lower than ours.
In the USA, paying taxes is a mandatory procedure and is strictly controlled. The same applies to filing an income tax return. Citizens of the country are quite law-abiding in this regard.
Results
For the decision to be the right one, you need to evaluate the pros and cons of living in New York:
| Advantages | Flaws |
| New York is a city of great opportunities for those who want to build a career. In this case, we are talking about both financiers and designers, photographers, writers and journalists. Here you can find a huge number of like-minded people and immerse yourself in a creative atmosphere. | The need to confirm a diploma obtained in your home country. |
| High level of social protection of the population and support for the poor at the state level. | High housing prices and other operating expenses. |
| Loyal attitude towards emigrants from local residents. New York is a multinational city in which opportunities are equal for representatives of all nations. | Constant noise, smog and very heavy traffic. |
| The city is an ideal place for those who like to live in constant motion, feel like part of a large metropolis and not stop even at night. | If you rent an apartment in remote areas, you will have to spend a lot of time on the road to get to the center and back. |
| High level of wages compared to other regions of the country. | Intense rhythm of life, constant stress. |
| Not too harsh winter. | High air humidity. |
| Those who want to live closer to “their own” need to remember that New York is home to one of the largest Russian settlements. | |
| Well developed public transport system. Getting around without a car is much more convenient and faster here. | |
| Crime is lower than in other metropolitan areas in the country. |
