Utica Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Utica, NY: $23.55/hr median hourly wage, $48,970 median annual salary, cost of living index 131.3, and $15.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and New York taxes.
Utica Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Utica, NY is $23.55/hr,and the median annual wage is $48,970. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.60/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.44/hr, and the local minimum wage is $15.00/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Utica-Rome, NY metropolitan statistical area (118,390 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Utica shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$48,970
$23.55/hr
Cost of Living
131.3
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$15.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.9%
rate
Utica, NY Overview
Population
62,235
Median Salary
$48,970
Average Salary
$61,760
Avg Commute
20 min
Median Home Price
$453,000
Median Rent
$1,843/mo
Job Growth
+2.7%
Sales Tax
4%
Utica is located in New York with a population of 62,235. The median annual wage across all occupations is $48,970 ($23.55/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Utica-Rome, NY metro), which is $2,010 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 20 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.7%.
Utica Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Utica, NY built around the $48,970 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Utica-Rome, NY metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,361 | $14.60/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $48,970 | $23.55/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $69,537 | $33.44/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $87,167 | $41.92/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Utica Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Utica, NY, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$38,941
$3,245.11/month · $1,497.74/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.5%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,497.74 take-home per paycheck after estimated New York and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$48,970
Federal Tax
-$3,696
State Tax
-$2,047
Local Tax
-$539
FICA
-$3,746
Net Pay
$38,941
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,080.83 | $48,970.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$308.03 | -$3,696.40 |
| New York State Tax (4.18% eff.) | -$170.62 | -$2,047.38 |
| Local Tax (1.1%) | -$44.89 | -$538.67 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$253.01 | -$3,036.14 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$59.17 | -$710.07 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,245.11 | $38,941.35 |
Salary Comparison: Utica vs Other Cities
See how Utica's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utica, NY | $48,970 | 131.3 | $37,296 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Kokomo, IN | $48,980 | 80.5 | $60,845 |
| Stockton, CA | $48,990 | 100 | $48,990 |
| Allentown, PA | $48,990 | 92 | $53,250 |
| Bethlehem, PA | $48,990 | 95 | $51,568 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Utica
Utica's cost of living index is 131.3 (national average = 100). Living in Utica is 31.30000000000001% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$453,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,843
Annual Rent Cost
$22,116
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $38,941 annual take-home pay in Utica has the purchasing power of approximately $29,658 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $64,298 in Utica to match a $48,970 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Utica
Utica's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $48,970.
Salary Tips for Utica Workers
- Negotiate for cost of living. Utica has a cost of living 31.30000000000001% above the national average. When negotiating salary, factor in the higher housing and living costs to ensure your real purchasing power stays competitive.
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 10.9% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Utica's top industries include Finance, Technology, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $48,970 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Utica salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Utica-Rome, NY metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Utica indexed at 131.3.
- Median salary: $48,970 annual, $23.55 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Utica-Rome, NY MSA (118,390 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $61,760 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Utica was $67,553.
- Tax burden reflects New York 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 10.9%), plus Utica local tax of 1.1%, sales tax (4%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Utica: 4.9%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Finance, Technology, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.7% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for New York.
- Housing context: median home price $453,000, median rent $1,843/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Utica, NY:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Utica unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Utica QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, New York, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Utica's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent New York labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Utica, NY?
The median hourly wage in Utica, NY is $23.55 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Utica-Rome, NY metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $48,970. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.60/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.44/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Utica, NY?
The median salary in Utica, NY is $48,970 per year, or $23.55 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Utica-Rome, NY metro area). The BLS mean salary is $61,760. This is $2,010 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Utica, NY?
Utica's cost of living index is 131.3 (national average = 100), meaning it is 31.30000000000001% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $453,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,843.
What are the best industries in Utica?
The top industries in Utica, NY include Finance, Technology, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 2.7% and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $48,970.
How does Utica's salary compare to other cities?
Utica's median salary of $48,970 is 3.9% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 131.3), the real purchasing power is approximately $37,296.
What is the minimum wage in Utica, NY?
The minimum wage in Utica, NY is $15.00 per hour. This equals approximately $31,200 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $7.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.