State of Work: The Coming Impact of Automation on New York
Millions of jobs in New York State will feel the effects of automation in the coming decades. These jobs are not necessarily disappearing, but they are transforming, as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced robotics tackle more roles in the workplace. Policymakers should act now to help New Yorkers prepare for the changes that are coming to the world of work.
CAPITAL REGION The Automatability of the Capital Region's Dozen Largest Jobs
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Retail Salespersons
46.8%
17,560
$23,690
Office Clerks, General
61.5%
14,070
$33,660
Cashiers
48.6%
13,010
$20,510
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
53.6%
12,910
$38,380
Registered Nurses
28.9%
11,620
$63,980
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
22.4%
10,760
$25,080
Customer Service Representatives
29.3%
10,490
$34,100
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
9,390
$20,540
General and Operations Managers
22.8%
8,410
$97,370
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
85.6%
8,000
$40,520
Waiters and Waitresses
76.9%
7,870
$24,330
Personal Care Aides
23.6%
7,210
$25,290
The Largest Highly Automatable Occupations in the Capital Region
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
9,390
$20,540
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
85.6%
8,000
$40,520
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers
86.4%
6,290
$24,750
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
81.4%
5,370
$41,970
Food Preparation Workers
91.4%
3,830
$22,740
Cooks, Restaurant
84.0%
3,240
$25,840
Dishwashers
85.6%
2,220
$20,860
Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop
88.1%
1,950
$20,380
Billing and Posting Clerks
87.6%
1,900
$37,340
Word Processors and Typists
90.4%
1,660
$37,650
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
91.7%
1,600
$37,080
Driver/Sales Workers
81.4%
1,690
$28,880
CENTRAL NEW YORK The Automatability of Central New York's Dozen Largest Jobs
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Retail Salespersons
46.8%
13,050
$22,010
Cashiers
48.6%
8,660
$20,180
Customer Service Representatives
29.3%
8,340
$33,750
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
22.4%
8,200
$26,980
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
53.6%
7,680
$36,060
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
7,460
$20,210
Office Clerks, General
61.5%
7,430
$29,190
Registered Nurses
28.9%
6,350
$62,420
Teacher Assistants
19.9%
6,010
$25,890
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
6.7%
5,690
$29,970
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
85.6%
5,290
$38,960
General and Operations Managers
22.8%
5,260
$90,660
The Largest Highly Automatable Occupations in Central New York
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
7,460
$20,210
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
85.6%
5,290
$38,960
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers
86.4%
5,130
$22,900
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
81.4%
4,660
$47,640
Cooks, Restaurant
84.0%
2,410
$24,410
Food Preparation Workers
91.4%
2,380
$21,400
Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop
88.1%
2,000
$20,810
Dishwashers
85.6%
1,600
$20,180
Billing and Posting Clerks
87.6%
1,590
$36,550
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
100.0%
1,310
$31,440
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
86.2%
1,310
$20,380
Driver/Sales Workers
81.4%
1,300
$22,470
FINGER LAKES The Automatability of the Finger Lakes's Dozen Largest Jobs
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Retail Salespersons
46.8%
19,000
$21,960
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
53.6%
16,570
$36,220
Cashiers
48.6%
13,680
$20,180
Customer Service Representatives
29.3%
12,490
$33,730
Registered Nurses
28.9%
12,270
$62,050
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
22.4%
11,780
$24,700
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
10,920
$20,390
Office Clerks, General
61.5%
10,820
$30,400
Waiters and Waitresses
76.9%
9,720
$24,180
General and Operations Managers
22.8%
8,280
$101,540
Teacher Assistants
19.9%
8,270
$23,600
Personal Care Aides
23.6%
8,050
$24,090
The Largest Highly Automatable Occupations in the Finger Lakes
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
10,920
$20,390
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
85.6%
7,260
$38,120
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers
86.4%
6,690
$23,530
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
81.4%
4,700
$43,250
Food Preparation Workers
91.4%
3,670
$21,850
Cooks, Restaurant
84.0%
3,450
$25,320
Dishwashers
85.6%
2,260
$20,200
Billing and Posting Clerks
87.6%
2,160
$35,100
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
100.0%
2,010
$33,070
Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop
88.1%
1,680
$20,260
Driver/Sales Workers
81.4%
1,640
$21,150
Cooks, Fast Food
88.5%
1,600
$20,540
HUDSON VALLEY The Automatability of the Hudson Valley's Dozen Largest Jobs
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Retail Salespersons
46.8%
37,920
$23,180
Cashiers
48.6%
23,240
$20,270
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
22.4%
22,030
$28,760
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
53.6%
21,260
$39,890
Registered Nurses
28.9%
19,340
$83,160
Office Clerks, General
61.5%
18,960
$31,650
Waiters and Waitresses
76.9%
17,140
$20,650
Teacher Assistants
19.9%
17,140
$29,140
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers
86.4%
16,350
$24,530
Personal Care Aides
23.6%
16,140
$27,370
General and Operations Managers
22.8%
15,860
$111,930
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
15,100
$20,570
The Largest Highly Automatable Occupations in the Hudson Valley
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers
86.4%
16,350
$24,530
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
15,100
$20,570
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
85.6%
12,850
$46,630
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
81.4%
6,230
$53,610
Cooks, Restaurant
84.0%
5,890
$27,770
Food Preparation Workers
91.4%
5,810
$22,550
Billing and Posting Clerks
87.6%
4,150
$40,040
Dishwashers
85.6%
3,120
$20,690
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
86.2%
2,850
$20,310
Painters, Construction and Maintenance
89.8%
2,480
$48,640
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
88.2%
2,280
$69,400
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
90.0%
1,980
$35,310
LONG ISLAND The Automatability of Long Islands's Dozen Largest Jobs
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Retail Salespersons
46.8%
53,830
$23,220
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
53.6%
34,300
$39,060
Office Clerks, General
61.5%
28,790
$31,930
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
22.4%
27,720
$30,030
Cashiers
48.6%
27,610
$21,000
Registered Nurses
28.9%
27,400
$89,380
Customer Service Representatives
29.3%
25,010
$39,840
Personal Care Aides
23.6%
24,870
$26,430
General and Operations Managers
22.8%
24,620
$123,720
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
23,440
$21,110
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
85.6%
22,000
$46,100
Teacher Assistants
19.9%
21,940
$26,090
The Largest Highly Automatable Occupations on Long Island
Occupation
Automation Potential
Workers
Median Salary
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
86.7%
23,440
$21,110
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
85.6%
22,000
$46,100
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers
86.4%
20,340
$24,020
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
81.4%
9,210
$56,350
Cooks, Restaurant
84.0%
8,530
$28,020
Food Preparation Workers
91.4%
7,520
$25,700
Billing and Posting Clerks
87.6%
6,950
$43,190
Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop
88.1%
4,400
$20,800
Dishwashers
85.6%
4,050
$22,140
Driver/Sales Workers
81.4%
4,010
$20,800
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
86.2%
3,720
$20,800
Word Processors and Typists
90.4%
3,610
$42,580
This report is a publication of the Middle Class Jobs Project, a research initiative made possible by the generous support of Fisher Brothers and Winston C. Fisher.
General operating support for the Center for an Urban Future is provided by The Clark Foundation, the Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation, and Altman Foundation.
"State of Work" was researched and written by Matt A.V. Chaban. Edited by Eli Dvorkin and Jonathan Bowles.
Center for an Urban Future (CUF) is an independent, nonprofit think tank that generates innovative policies to create jobs, reduce inequality and help lower income New Yorkers climb into the middle class. For 20 years, CUF has published accessible, data-driven reports on ways to grow and diversify the economy and expand opportunity that are anchored in rigorous research, not preconceived notions about outcome. Our work has been a powerful catalyst for policy change in New York City and serves as an invaluable resource for government officials, community groups, nonprofit practitioners and business leaders as they advocate for and implement policies to address some of New York’s biggest challenges and opportunities.
City & State,
by Annie McDonough,
November 14, 2019
This report is a publication of the Middle Class Jobs Project, a research initiative made possible by the generous support of Fisher Brothers and Winston C. Fisher.
