Average Salaries in Ithaca, NY
Explore salaries across 240 occupations in Ithaca, NY. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $75.3K, +14.6% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 240 occupations and 39,530 total jobs in Ithaca, NY.
How the metro compares
Ithaca, NY pays modestly above the national average. Most occupations here earn more than their national equivalents, but the gap is smaller than in top-tier markets.
Ithaca, NY is a smaller metro labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is General Internal Medicine Physicians. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Ithaca, NY
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Ithaca, NY
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $370.3K | 120 |
| Psychiatrists | $280.2K | 40 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $268.2K | 40 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $168.4K | 190 |
| Marketing Managers | $167.5K | 70 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $166.5K | 50 |
| Human Resources Managers | $164.4K | 50 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $159.7K | 1,140 |
| Sales Managers | $156.1K | 70 |
| Financial Managers | $152.4K | 210 |
Largest occupations in Ithaca, NY
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 1,170 | $35.5K |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,140 | $159.7K |
| Registered Nurses | 940 | $100.3K |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 900 | $48K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 870 | $34.8K |
| Office Clerks, General | 860 | $37.4K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 840 | $38.1K |
| Cashiers | 810 | $35.5K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 780 | $39.2K |
| General And Operations Managers | 770 | $103.2K |
What Ithaca, NY specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Ithaca, NY than in the country as a whole, which signals what this metro is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Ithaca, NY
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, And Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 23.26 | $102.9K |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 16.69 | $159.7K |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 14.80 | $91.4K |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 12.10 | $97.2K |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 12.00 | $83.9K |
| Cardiologists | 10.63 | N/A |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 10.18 | $92.9K |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 9.79 | $86.2K |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 9.73 | $97.6K |
| Recreation And Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 9.72 | $84.8K |
Comparable metros
| Metro | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92.6K | Cardiologists |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87.1K | Cardiologists |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83.8K | Radiologists |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82.7K | Radiologists |
| Boulder, CO | $82.3K | Surgeons, All Other |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82.3K | Radiologists |
Common salary questions for Ithaca, NY
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other metros with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.