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These Are The 10 Best Cities In New York For Jobs In 2026

By Chris Kolmar
Jul. 18, 2017
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 4, 2026

Find a Job You Really Want In

Top 10 Cities in New York for Job Opportunities in 2026

Are you on the hunt for a job in New York? You’re in the right spot. The job market in New York has evolved significantly, and understanding where to find the best opportunities can make all the difference in your search.

While you may initially think of Albany as a prime location for employment, recent analysis reveals that it doesn’t lead the state in job opportunities. At Zippia, we rely on data-driven insights to identify the best cities for employment in the Empire State.

After examining over 340 locations across New York, we’ve compiled a list highlighting the top cities for job seekers in 2026:

  1. Lawrence
  2. Pelham Manor
  3. North Hills
  4. Irvington
  5. Scarsdale
  6. Rye
  7. Briarcliff Manor
  8. Pelham
  9. Garden City
  10. Sea Cliff

If you reside in one of these cities, you’re likely aware of the vibrant job market available to you. However, for those unfamiliar, read on to discover how we ranked these locations and the factors contributing to their high standings.

For additional job-related insights in New York, explore:

How We Determined the Best Cities for Jobs in New York

To accurately compare various locations, we established a minimum population threshold of 5,000 residents. Analyzing data from approximately 340 places, we narrowed our focus to 170 cities that met this criterion.

We then ranked each city based on several key indicators, with a ranking scale from one to 170—where one indicates the best. The final ranking was derived from the average score across all criteria, with the lowest score earning the title of the “Best Place for Jobs in New York.”

The criteria evaluated included:

  • Unemployment Rate
  • Median Household Income
  • Poverty Level

Data for these criteria was sourced from the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.

If your city doesn’t appear in the top ten, scroll to the end of this article for a comprehensive table showcasing all rankings.

1. Lawrence

Population: 6,511
Unemployment Rank: 2
Median Income Rank: 9
Poverty Level Rank: 1

2. Pelham Manor

Population: 5,539
Unemployment Rank: 4
Median Income Rank: 3
Poverty Level Rank: 5

3. North Hills

Population: 5,122
Unemployment Rank: 1
Median Income Rank: 16
Poverty Level Rank: 3

4. Irvington

Population: 6,506
Unemployment Rank: 11
Median Income Rank: 11
Poverty Level Rank: 7

5. Scarsdale

Population: 17,471
Unemployment Rank: 22
Median Income Rank: 1
Poverty Level Rank: 8

6. Rye

Population: 15,892
Unemployment Rank: 28
Median Income Rank: 5
Poverty Level Rank: 13

7. Briarcliff Manor

Population: 7,783
Unemployment Rank: 13
Median Income Rank: 8
Poverty Level Rank: 29

8. Pelham

Population: 6,984
Unemployment Rank: 14
Median Income Rank: 15
Poverty Level Rank: 24

9. Garden City

Population: 22,543
Unemployment Rank: 23
Median Income Rank: 7
Poverty Level Rank: 23

10. Sea Cliff

Population: 5,012
Unemployment Rank: 10
Median Income Rank: 26
Poverty Level Rank: 22

Finding the Right Job Location

The cities ranked as the best for jobs in New York have a common characteristic: proximity to major job sources. These locations leverage their geographic advantages, facilitating access to larger job markets and significant employers.

This underscores the enduring appeal of suburban living while seeking to balance career opportunities and a satisfying lifestyle.

If you’re interested, here are the cities with the lowest job prospects in New York:

  1. Monticello
  2. New Square
  3. Rochester

Comprehensive List of the Best Places for Jobs in New York

Rank City Population Unemployment Rank Income Rank Poverty Rank
1 Lawrence 6,511 2 9 1
2 Pelham Manor 5,539 4 3 5
3 North Hills 5,122 1 16 3
4 Irvington 6,506 11 11 7
5 Scarsdale 17,471 22 1 8
6 Rye 15,892 28 5 13
7 Briarcliff Manor 7,783 13 8 29
8 Pelham 6,984 14 15 24
9 Garden City 22,543 23 7 23
10 Sea Cliff 5,012 10 26 22
11 East Hills 7,025 19 4 40
12 Bayville 6,724 5 35 34
13 Kings Point 5,076 8 20 53
14 Larchmont 5,952 39 6 38
15 Floral Park 16,190 46 27 15
16 Dobbs Ferry 11,001 38 21 37
17 Airmont 8,770 12 39 46
18 Farmingdale 8,306 31 57 11
19 Malverne 8,544 80 18 2
20 Woodbury 10,638 53 13 35
21 East Rockaway 9,861 47 36 19
22 Hamburg 9,482 27 61 14
23 Rockville Centre 24,128 50 25 28
24 Hastings-On-Hudson 7,905 51 14 41
25 Chittenango 5,052 3 71 33
26 Northport 7,417 65 22 21
27 Babylon 12,177 52 32 26
28 Chestnut Ridge 8,035 32 29 49
29 Bronxville 6,378 91 2 18
30 Wesley Hills 5,779 72 30 10
31 Massapequa Park 17,137 89 17 6
32 Westbury 15,201 18 44 50
33 Mineola 18,918 15 51 47
34 Williston Park 7,319 71 31 16
35 New Hyde Park 9,764 54 33 31
36 Lindenhurst 27,303 42 45 32
37 Croton-On-Hudson 8,168 90 12 20
38 Lake Grove 11,235 17 37 70
39 Hilton 5,954 35 79 12
40 East Aurora 6,255 9 69 51
41 Colonie 7,869 33 54 44
42 Washingtonville 5,837 41 55 39
43 New Hempstead 5,240 115 19 4
44 Monroe 8,493 36 34 68
45 Goshen 5,417 43 60 36
46 Port Jefferson 7,789 57 24 60
47 Pleasantville 7,090 106 28 9
48 Long Beach 33,522 34 46 65
49 Harrison 27,822 61 23 61
50 Amityville 9,551 24 52 73
51 Horseheads 6,593 7 84 59
52 Rye Brook 9,456 120 10 27
53 Patchogue 12,045 20 58 81
54 Tarr 11,423 96 38 30
55 Williamsville 5,286 30 76 64
56 Nyack 6,857 21 74 76
57 White Plains 57,505 58 50 67
58 Cedarhurst 6,631 79 42 54
59 Wappingers Falls 5,377 16 83 80
60 Scotia 7,742 45 80 56
61 Kenmore 15,334 26 90 66
62 Glen Cove 27,161 29 68 88
63 Lynbrook 19,517 102 41 42
64 Fairport 5,364 111 62 17
65 Suffern 10,864 85 53 52
66 West Haverstraw 10,308 82 48 63
67 Waterloo 5,178 6 92 99
68 Tuckahoe 6,559 83 59 58
69 Mamaroneck 19,133 88 43 71
70 Saratoga Springs 26,998 69 65 72
71 Warwick 6,783 103 67 43
72 Great Neck 10,052 125 49 48
73 Valley Stream 37,764 127 40 55
74 New Rochelle 78,476 84 64 74
75 Great Neck Plaza 6,823 121 78 25
76 Baldwinsville 7,655 55 104 69
77 Mount Kisco 11,016 78 56 96
78 Depew 15,262 62 93 77
79 Manorhaven 6,638 131 47 62
80 North Syracuse 6,659 100 100 45
81 Port Chester 29,275 73 82 92
82 Oneida 11,290 59 99 90
83 North Tonawanda 31,245 76 97 75
84 Sleepy Hollow 10,002 94 77 84
85 Rome 33,161 48 107 109
86 Lancaster 10,314 123 88 57
87 Solvay 6,514 56 113 101
88 Freeport 43,168 119 66 85
89 Ossining 25,232 99 63 108
90 Walden 6,919 118 70 83
91 Tonawanda 15,048 92 102 78
92 Watervliet 10,250 75 110 87
93 Fredonia 10,988 25 105 147
94 Haverstraw 12,060 107 81 93
95 Corning 11,108 74 95 112
96 East Rochester 6,687 93 98 91
97 Canandaigua 10,532 86 106 97
98 Saranac Lake 6,055 97 111 82
99 Yonkers 198,654 116 75 100
100 Ballston Spa 5,298 129 85 79
Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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