lenetstan // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $83,080
- Median hourly wage: $39.94
- Total employment: 60 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Ithaca
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Ithaca. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
2 / 50#48. Software quality assurance analysts and testers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $83,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Education teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $83,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Legal support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $85,650
- Median hourly wage: $41.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $88,600
- Median hourly wage: $42.60
- Total employment: 80 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $89,380
- Median hourly wage: $42.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $92,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $92,810
- Median hourly wage: $44.62
- Total employment: 220 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SofikoS // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Median annual wage: $93,490
- Median hourly wage: $44.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $95,460
- Median hourly wage: $45.89
- Total employment: 90 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 460 people (9.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $96,490
- Median hourly wage: $46.39
- Total employment: 50 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Web and digital interface designers
- Median annual wage: $98,130
- Median hourly wage: $47.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $98,510
- Median hourly wage: $47.36
- Total employment: 810 people (16.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $99,250
- Median hourly wage: $47.71
- Total employment: 110 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $100,780
- Median hourly wage: $48.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $102,760
- Median hourly wage: $49.40
- Total employment: 120 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $103,140
- Median hourly wage: $49.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $103,290
- Median hourly wage: $49.66
- Total employment: 870 people (18.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $105,000
- Median hourly wage: $50.48
- Total employment: 370 people (7.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $105,410
- Median hourly wage: $50.68
- Total employment: 60 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $107,580
- Median hourly wage: $51.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $108,410
- Median hourly wage: $52.12
- Total employment: 90 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $110,810
- Median hourly wage: $53.27
- Total employment: 60 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Median annual wage: $110,940
- Median hourly wage: $53.34
- Total employment: 60 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $111,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $111,830
- Median hourly wage: $53.77
- Total employment: 80 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $114,090
- Median hourly wage: $54.85
- Total employment: 60 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $115,160
- Median hourly wage: $55.36
- Total employment: Not available
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Personal financial advisors
- Median annual wage: $120,700
- Median hourly wage: $58.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $121,480
- Median hourly wage: $58.40
- Total employment: 30 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,120 people (23.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $130,260
- Median hourly wage: $62.62
- Total employment: 140 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $130,630
- Median hourly wage: $62.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $130,830
- Median hourly wage: $62.90
- Total employment: 170 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $134,250
- Median hourly wage: $64.54
- Total employment: 300 people (6.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $134,910
- Median hourly wage: $64.86
- Total employment: 70 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $136,120
- Median hourly wage: $65.44
- Total employment: 60 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $136,920
- Median hourly wage: $65.83
- Total employment: 50 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $138,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,000 people (20.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $143,290
- Median hourly wage: $68.89
- Total employment: 190 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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dokurose // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $150,390
- Median hourly wage: $72.30
- Total employment: 70 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $150,940
- Median hourly wage: $72.57
- Total employment: 70 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $154,310
- Median hourly wage: $74.19
- Total employment: 30 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $160,100
- Median hourly wage: $76.97
- Total employment: 50 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $168,690
- Median hourly wage: $81.10
- Total employment: 170 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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