SOC 49-9041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Industrial Machinery Mechanics — Watertown
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY · 10 metro areas compared
In Watertown, NY the median wage is $59,160.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Watertown, NY the median wage is $59,160. That is 8.3% lower than the national median of $64,520. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $55,830 and $73,170. The lowest tenth earn under $49,680, while the highest tenth earn more than $100,480.
The area has 60 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.57 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Albany leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $76,220. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 97th of 199 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,680 | −23.0% |
| 25th | $55,830 | −13.5% |
| Median (50th) | $59,160 | −8.3% |
| 75th | $73,170 | +13.4% |
| 90th | $100,480 | +55.7% |
| Mean | $64,330 | −0.3% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany | $76,220 | 850 | |
| 2 | New York | $75,260 | 10,780 | |
| 3 | Syracuse | $73,030 | 820 | |
| 4 | Kingston | $70,450 | 70 | |
| 5 | Buffalo | $70,130 | 1,560 | |
| 6 | Kiryas Joel | $67,140 | 450 | |
| 7 | Utica | $64,790 | 420 | |
| 8 | Elmira | $64,750 | 120 | |
| 9 | Glens Falls | $64,110 | 80 | |
| 10 | Ithaca | $63,650 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Watertown run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $59,160 buys what $54,829 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 15.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$54,829US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,160 a year, 8.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,680 to $100,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Albany, at $76,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Watertown, NY?
The median annual wage is $59,160, or $28.44 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $64,520, so pay in Watertown, NY is 8.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Watertown, NY earns more than $100,480 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,680 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Albany, at $76,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in Watertown, NY. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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