Jobs, pay and daily life in Elmira, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Elmira is a city in New York with 26,257 residents. The median household earns $43,120 a year and the median rent is $909 a month, which is 25.3% of the median household income. It is part of the Elmira, NY metropolitan area, where BLS counts 33,600 jobs.
How Elmira compares. Among the 120 largest places in New York, Elmira is #61 by population, #120 for household income (#1 = highest), #116 for college degrees (#1 = most), #6 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Chemung County, is #34 of 62 counties for average pay ($61,216).
Elmira has 26,257 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.1% of the population of New York. It covers 7 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 3,621 people per square mile. The median age is 36.5, 8% younger than the state median (36.5 against 39.8).
The median gross rent is $909 a month (rent plus utilities), 44% below the state median ($909 against $1,621). Over a year that is 25.3% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $93,000, which is 2.2 times the median household income ($43,120); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 50.1% of households own their home, 8% below the state average (50.1% against 54.4%).
The Elmira, NY metropolitan area has 33,600 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $47,850 a year, 6% below the national median ($47,850 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (4,240 jobs, median $45,120); sales and related (3,210 jobs, median $35,490); transportation and material moving (3,030 jobs, median $40,140). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Chemung County was 4.0%. 52.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Chemung County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 66.5% drive alone, 3.8% use public transit, 5.8% walk, 10.3% work from home. 10.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 60% below the state average (10.9% against 27.4%).
18.1% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 55% below the state share (18.1% against 40.2%). 3.7% of residents were born outside the United States, 84% below the state share (3.7% against 22.8%). The poverty rate is 30.2%, 115% above the state rate (30.2% against 14.0%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 71°F (21.4°C), and the coolest is Jan at 23°F (-5.2°C). About 1,008 mm (40 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jul is the wettest month (105 mm) and Feb the driest (56 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Ithaca (29 miles, rent 59% higher); Binghamton (46 miles, rent 4% lower); Cortland (48 miles, rent 7% higher); Auburn (59 miles, similar rent). Rent differences are against Elmira; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in New York (1,186) →State guide: New YorkCountry guideChemung CountyNew York rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 1,186 federal postings open in New York (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in New York →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 1,180 | 1.40 | $34,140 | $32,240 | $47,920 | -4% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 880 | 1.05 | $32,950 | $32,240 | $37,130 | +6% |
| Cashiers | 860 | 1.29 | $32,790 | $32,240 | $36,070 | -0% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 820 | 1.34 | $37,520 | $32,240 | $45,760 | +1% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 750 | 0.81 | $36,900 | $32,240 | $47,570 | +3% |
| Registered Nurses | 730 | 1.00 | $82,820 | $67,050 | $98,450 | -15% |
| General and Operations Managers | 640 | 0.85 | $94,830 | $46,810 | $216,360 | -10% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 630 | 2.06 | $36,250 | $32,550 | $46,700 | -1% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 550 | 6.72 | $76,820 | $64,010 | $85,070 | +30% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 540 | 1.14 | $35,970 | $32,240 | $45,110 | -2% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 530 | 1.44 | $44,450 | $35,730 | $58,700 | -6% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 530 | 1.74 | $44,050 | $35,900 | $63,890 | -1% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 510 | 0.91 | $39,230 | $32,240 | $57,750 | -12% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 480 | 0.98 | $46,160 | $32,240 | $74,470 | +31% |
| Office Clerks, General | 470 | 0.88 | $40,930 | $32,240 | $57,250 | -9% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 450 | 1.51 | $61,220 | $47,700 | $80,430 | -4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 440 | 1.42 | $37,960 | $36,800 | $45,050 | -10% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 440 | 1.34 | $49,560 | $37,830 | $69,720 | -0% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 390 | 0.88 | $57,080 | $39,010 | $80,560 | -3% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 370 | 0.59 | $37,280 | $32,240 | $56,290 | -7% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 640 | 0.85 | $94,830 | $46,810 | $216,360 | -10% |
| Registered Nurses | 730 | 1.00 | $82,820 | $67,050 | $98,450 | -15% |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | 550 | 6.72 | $76,820 | $64,010 | $85,070 | +30% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 530 | 1.44 | $44,450 | $35,730 | $58,700 | -6% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 530 | 1.74 | $44,050 | $35,900 | $63,890 | -1% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 510 | 0.91 | $39,230 | $32,240 | $57,750 | -12% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 820 | 1.34 | $37,520 | $32,240 | $45,760 | +1% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 750 | 0.81 | $36,900 | $32,240 | $47,570 | +3% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 630 | 2.06 | $36,250 | $32,550 | $46,700 | -1% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 540 | 1.14 | $35,970 | $32,240 | $45,110 | -2% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,180 | 1.40 | $34,140 | $32,240 | $47,920 | -4% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 880 | 1.05 | $32,950 | $32,240 | $37,130 | +6% |
| Cashiers | 860 | 1.29 | $32,790 | $32,240 | $36,070 | -0% |
These figures are for the whole Elmira, NY metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,850 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.0% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.9% |
| Retail trade | 12.3% |
| Manufacturing | 11.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 11.3% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 8.5% |
| Public administration | 6.7% |
| Other services | 4.9% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 3.3% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 3.1% |
| Construction | 2.6% |
| Information | 1.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.0% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.2% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Elmira lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemung County | 82,147 | $4,774 million | $58,117 | 33,739 | 1,914 | $61,216 | +1.4% | 4.0% | 35,464 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 5,770 | 21.9% | $65,568 | 1.19 |
| Manufacturing | 4,624 | 17.6% | $77,164 | 1.67 |
| Retail trade | 4,534 | 17.2% | $37,543 | 1.35 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,095 | 11.8% | $24,651 | 1.01 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,585 | 6.0% | $55,849 | 1.11 |
| Construction | 1,478 | 5.6% | $75,239 | 0.83 |
| Administrative and waste services | 1,283 | 4.9% | $41,078 | 0.65 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 786 | 3.0% | $35,493 | 0.77 |
| Finance and insurance | 714 | 2.7% | $78,900 | 0.52 |
| Professional and technical services | 647 | 2.5% | $74,004 | 0.28 |
| Educational services | 474 | 1.8% | $44,745 | 0.68 |
| Information | 386 | 1.5% | $72,536 | 0.61 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 304 | 1.2% | $22,108 | 0.54 |
| Real estate and rental | 276 | 1.0% | $52,703 | 0.53 |
| Management of companies | 168 | 0.6% | $98,007 | 0.30 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 150 | 0.6% | $142,328 | 1.18 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 43 | 0.2% | $23,060 | 0.16 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 66.5% |
| Public transit | 3.8% |
| Walk | 5.8% |
| Work from home | 10.3% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 10.9% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,120 |
| Income per person | $23,686 |
| Median gross rent per month | $909 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 25.3% |
| Median home value | $93,000 |
| Homeowners | 50.1% |
| Poverty rate | 30.2% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 94.4 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $47,850 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 10.90%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 81.9% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 18.1% |
| Born abroad | 3.7% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 52.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -5.2 | 23 | 57 |
| Feb | -4.4 | 24 | 56 |
| Mar | 0.2 | 32 | 69 |
| Apr | 7.0 | 45 | 81 |
| May | 13.8 | 57 | 91 |
| Jun | 18.6 | 65 | 104 |
| Jul | 21.4 | 71 | 105 |
| Aug | 20.8 | 69 | 101 |
| Sep | 16.9 | 62 | 105 |
| Oct | 9.8 | 50 | 100 |
| Nov | 3.3 | 38 | 65 |
| Dec | -2.1 | 28 | 74 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca | NY | 29 mi | 32,814 | $48,784 | $1,447 |
| Binghamton | NY | 46 mi | 47,151 | $45,578 | $870 |
| Cortland | NY | 48 mi | 17,450 | $59,482 | $975 |
| Auburn | NY | 59 mi | 26,285 | $51,052 | $897 |
| Williamsport | PA | 60 mi | 27,612 | $48,851 | $855 |
| Syracuse | NY | 74 mi | 146,384 | $47,819 | $1,039 |
| Kingston | PA | 74 mi | 13,397 | $55,347 | $1,038 |
| Nanticoke | PA | 75 mi | 10,653 | $57,462 | $792 |
| Scranton | PA | 76 mi | 76,033 | $50,739 | $1,048 |
| Wilkes-Barre | PA | 76 mi | 44,423 | $48,515 | $946 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
26,257 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$909 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 25.3% of the median household income.
$43,120 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.0% (BLS county, Chemung County (latest month 2026M09)).
New York. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.