Jobs, pay and daily life in Oswego, 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.
Oswego is a city in New York with 17,033 residents. The median household earns $53,172 a year and the median rent is $1,109 a month, which is 25.0% of the median household income. It is part of the Syracuse, NY metropolitan area, where BLS counts 300,130 jobs.
How Oswego compares. Among the 120 largest places in New York, Oswego is #112 by population, #106 for household income (#1 = highest), #100 for college degrees (#1 = most), #21 for rent (#1 = cheapest). Its county, Oswego County, is #30 of 62 counties for average pay ($62,152).
Oswego has 17,033 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.1% of the population of New York. It covers 8 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,237 people per square mile. The median age is 35.7, 10% younger than the state median (35.7 against 39.8).
The median gross rent is $1,109 a month (rent plus utilities), 32% below the state median ($1,109 against $1,621). Over a year that is 25.0% 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 $120,600, which is 2.3 times the median household income ($53,172); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 50.2% of households own their home, 8% below the state average (50.2% against 54.4%).
The Syracuse, NY metropolitan area has 300,130 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $52,990 a year, 4% above the national median ($52,990 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (38,480 jobs, median $48,270); transportation and material moving (28,190 jobs, median $44,930); educational instruction and library (25,920 jobs, median $65,420). The area is most specialised in community and social service (1.5 times) and educational instruction and library (1.5 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($128,290) and architecture and engineering ($99,960). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Oswego County was 4.2%. 61.2% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Oswego County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 72.8% drive alone, 2.2% use public transit, 5.6% walk, 8.6% work from home. 12.7% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 54% below the state average (12.7% against 27.4%).
26.1% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 35% below the state share (26.1% against 40.2%). 2.5% of residents were born outside the United States, 89% below the state share (2.5% against 22.8%). The poverty rate is 20.6%, 47% above the state rate (20.6% against 14.0%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 71°F (21.6°C), and the coolest is Jan at 25°F (-3.8°C). About 1,086 mm (43 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Oct is the wettest month (124 mm) and Feb the driest (72 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: Syracuse (34 miles, rent 6% lower); Auburn (36 miles, rent 19% lower); Watertown (46 miles, rent 13% lower); Rome (53 miles, rent 18% lower). Rent differences are against Oswego; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in New York (1,186) →State guide: New YorkCountry guideOswego 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 8,310 | 1.00 | $37,440 | $34,510 | $48,790 | +5% |
| Registered Nurses | 8,180 | 1.25 | $86,960 | $70,350 | $108,830 | -11% |
| Retail Salespersons | 8,150 | 1.08 | $35,250 | $32,240 | $50,340 | -0% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 6,750 | 0.91 | $33,940 | $32,240 | $37,990 | +9% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 6,640 | 1.21 | $38,950 | $32,870 | $56,660 | +4% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 6,390 | 1.12 | $44,660 | $34,360 | $55,840 | +11% |
| Cashiers | 6,140 | 1.03 | $33,950 | $32,240 | $36,670 | +3% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 6,010 | 1.41 | $38,230 | $32,240 | $53,620 | +4% |
| General and Operations Managers | 5,730 | 0.85 | $108,140 | $58,370 | $234,030 | +2% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 4,950 | 1.50 | $48,500 | $37,230 | $62,890 | +2% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 4,710 | 0.94 | $45,360 | $34,630 | $65,680 | +1% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 4,670 | 1.70 | $37,330 | $32,240 | $50,330 | +1% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 4,120 | 1.04 | $61,330 | $47,070 | $85,490 | +5% |
| Office Clerks, General | 4,020 | 0.84 | $45,060 | $32,240 | $62,280 | +0% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 3,550 | 1.20 | $54,300 | $37,970 | $76,180 | +9% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 3,430 | 0.78 | $47,640 | $32,240 | $79,750 | +35% |
| Nursing Assistants | 3,120 | 1.12 | $42,940 | $37,810 | $50,420 | +2% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 2,980 | 1.12 | $52,000 | $38,740 | $72,830 | +3% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 2,710 | 0.97 | $82,230 | $58,230 | $133,410 | -2% |
| Light Truck Drivers | 2,710 | 1.43 | $44,200 | $33,230 | $65,530 | -1% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 540 | 0.81 | $286,920 | $78,640 | $396,070 | +8% |
| Sales Managers | 640 | 0.52 | $170,090 | $89,940 | $291,490 | +15% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 740 | 0.57 | $169,760 | $107,060 | $253,570 | -3% |
| Financial Managers | 1,220 | 0.75 | $169,270 | $93,230 | $298,480 | +2% |
| Marketing Managers | 660 | 0.87 | $155,360 | $82,650 | $274,950 | -7% |
| Pharmacists | 740 | 1.18 | $149,510 | $114,060 | $171,850 | +6% |
| Physician Assistants | 590 | 1.88 | $133,000 | $101,200 | $170,600 | -2% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 910 | 1.46 | $132,010 | $101,290 | $161,490 | -0% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 870 | 0.75 | $131,060 | $82,580 | $221,540 | +6% |
| Software Developers | 2,180 | 0.67 | $129,100 | $82,200 | $172,830 | -5% |
| Lawyers | 1,190 | 0.82 | $128,910 | $74,750 | $311,960 | -19% |
| Electrical Engineers | 700 | 1.81 | $111,070 | $76,100 | $162,590 | -8% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 760 | 1.21 | $110,010 | $97,650 | $146,430 | +4% |
| General and Operations Managers | 5,730 | 0.85 | $108,140 | $58,370 | $234,030 | +2% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 560 | 1.36 | $107,700 | $63,120 | $163,620 | +23% |
| Project Management Specialists | 1,800 | 0.87 | $105,390 | $65,370 | $165,650 | +3% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 620 | 1.08 | $105,020 | $77,140 | $156,890 | +1% |
| Industrial Engineers | 830 | 1.18 | $104,360 | $78,980 | $136,650 | +2% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | 500 | 0.72 | $103,900 | $71,810 | $168,080 | +1% |
| Civil Engineers | 830 | 1.17 | $102,330 | $72,110 | $164,830 | +1% |
These figures are for the whole Syracuse, NY metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $52,990 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.0% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.3% |
| Retail trade | 16.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.9% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 7.4% |
| Manufacturing | 6.6% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 5.5% |
| Public administration | 5.4% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 5.1% |
| Other services | 4.6% |
| Construction | 3.7% |
| Information | 1.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.3% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.1% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Oswego 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oswego County | 117,953 | $9,256 million | $78,474 | 32,163 | 2,324 | $62,152 | +1.2% | 4.2% | 56,301 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 4,210 | 20.1% | $38,215 | 1.31 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,014 | 19.2% | $55,884 | 0.87 |
| Manufacturing | 3,400 | 16.2% | $85,905 | 1.29 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,232 | 15.4% | $23,860 | 1.11 |
| Construction | 1,528 | 7.3% | $72,741 | 0.91 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 897 | 4.3% | $35,749 | 0.93 |
| Administrative and waste services | 677 | 3.2% | $53,701 | 0.36 |
| Finance and insurance | 643 | 3.1% | $68,271 | 0.49 |
| Wholesale trade | 589 | 2.8% | $74,393 | 0.46 |
| Professional and technical services | 521 | 2.5% | $62,553 | 0.23 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 369 | 1.8% | $21,401 | 0.68 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 277 | 1.3% | $42,202 | 1.06 |
| Real estate and rental | 237 | 1.1% | $61,930 | 0.47 |
| Information | 181 | 0.9% | $54,657 | 0.30 |
| Educational services | 94 | 0.4% | $48,145 | 0.14 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 80 | 0.4% | $64,208 | 0.66 |
| Management of companies | 8 | 0.0% | $91,890 | 0.01 |
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 | 72.8% |
| Public transit | 2.2% |
| Walk | 5.6% |
| Work from home | 8.6% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 12.7% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,172 |
| Income per person | $32,279 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,109 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 25.0% |
| Median home value | $120,600 |
| Homeowners | 50.2% |
| Poverty rate | 20.6% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 95.7 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $52,990 |
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 | 35.7 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 91.3% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 26.1% |
| Born abroad | 2.5% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 61.2% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -3.8 | 25 | 77 |
| Feb | -3.6 | 26 | 72 |
| Mar | 0.2 | 32 | 73 |
| Apr | 6.0 | 43 | 88 |
| May | 12.2 | 54 | 92 |
| Jun | 17.7 | 64 | 98 |
| Jul | 21.6 | 71 | 94 |
| Aug | 21.5 | 71 | 91 |
| Sep | 17.9 | 64 | 90 |
| Oct | 11.1 | 52 | 124 |
| Nov | 5.0 | 41 | 88 |
| Dec | -0.4 | 31 | 99 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | NY | 34 mi | 146,384 | $47,819 | $1,039 |
| Auburn | NY | 36 mi | 26,285 | $51,052 | $897 |
| Watertown | NY | 46 mi | 24,375 | $51,753 | $967 |
| Rome | NY | 53 mi | 31,795 | $59,925 | $909 |
| Fort Drum | NY | 54 mi | 16,065 | $62,291 | $1,622 |
| Irondequoit | NY | 56 mi | 50,657 | $79,162 | $1,159 |
| Brighton | NY | 59 mi | 36,834 | $85,467 | $1,350 |
| Rochester | NY | 59 mi | 208,772 | $47,213 | $1,081 |
| Cortland | NY | 61 mi | 17,450 | $59,482 | $975 |
| Utica | NY | 69 mi | 64,217 | $52,484 | $951 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
17,033 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,109 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 25.0% of the median household income.
$53,172 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.2% (BLS county, Oswego County (latest month 2026M09)).
New York. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.