You’re curious about what your neighbor makes working for the DOT. Or maybe you're eyeing a job at SUNY and want to know if that "competitive salary" they mentioned is actually just code for "we pay in exposure."
Honestly, the new york state salary look up process is a bit of a rabbit hole. Most people think there's just one big button you click to see every paycheck in the state.
It’s not like that. At all.
New York is big on transparency, but the data is spread across different silos. You’ve got the State Comptroller’s records, the SeeThroughNY database, and now, as of early 2026, some brand-new electronic portals for contractors.
If you don't know where to look, you're going to get frustrated. Fast.
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Where the Real Data Lives
The gold standard for a new york state salary look up is SeeThroughNY. This isn't a government site, but it’s run by the Empire Center for Public Policy, and they basically do the heavy lifting of FOILing (Freedom of Information Law) every agency so you don't have to.
Just last week—January 8, 2026, to be exact—they dropped a massive update.
They added payroll records for over 70,000 public authority employees for the 2025 cycle. If you're looking for someone at the MTA or the Port Authority, that's where the fresh numbers are.
The Comptroller’s Side of Things
The NYS Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) runs the official "Open Book New York" portal. It’s great, but it can feel a bit "government-y." You can find:
- State agency payrolls (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches).
- Spending on contracts.
- Pension data (though this is usually a separate search).
One thing to keep in mind: the "Total Pay" you see often includes overtime. In places like Nassau County, overtime is the secret sauce that pushes some police officials over the $400,000 mark. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, a Nassau police official named Curt Beaudry topped the local government list at $418,022. That’s not just base salary; that’s years of seniority and a lot of extra hours.
The 2026 Transparency Shift
Things changed on January 1.
If you’re looking up salaries because you're job hunting, the New York State Salary Look Up experience just got a lot more "retail-friendly." The state’s Pay Transparency Act now requires basically every employer with four or more employees to list a "good faith" salary range in job postings.
But wait. There’s a catch.
The law was recently tweaked to clarify what "pay" actually means. It’s not just the hourly rate anymore. In the latest 2026 legal updates, many employers are now being pushed to disclose total compensation estimates—including bonuses and certain benefits—if they want to stay on the right side of the Department of Labor.
Private Sector vs. Public Sector
Public sector salaries are public record. Period. If a person's salary is paid by taxpayers, you can find their name and their 2025 earnings.
Private sector? Not so much.
While you can see the range for a job opening at a tech firm in Manhattan, you can’t look up exactly what "Steve from Accounting" made last year unless he’s a government contractor. Speaking of contractors, a new law kicked in on December 31, 2025. Now, any contractor working on a public project has to submit electronic payroll records every 30 days. This database is becoming the new "must-watch" for anyone tracking how public money is spent on private labor.
Common Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
You’ll probably see "Rate of Pay" and "Total Pay" listed side by side.
They are rarely the same.
A SUNY professor might have a "Rate of Pay" of $95,000 but a "Total Pay" of $115,000 because of summer research grants or clinical additives. On the flip side, some part-time employees might show a high "Rate" (like $50/hour) but a tiny "Total" because they only worked ten hours all year.
Don't let the big numbers freak you out without checking the "Hours Worked" or "Title" first.
The "Double Dipper" Mystery
Ever see someone listed twice?
It happens.
Usually, it’s because someone switched agencies mid-year or they hold two part-time roles—like a town clerk who also works for the county. SeeThroughNY is pretty good at flagging these, but the raw Comptroller data might just show two separate entries.
The Highest Earners Might Surprise You
Most people think the Governor makes the most.
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Nope.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s salary is $250,000. While that’s plenty for most of us, there are over 1,700 local government employees who make more than her.
If you want the real high-rollers, you have to look at healthcare and education. Dr. John B. King Jr., the SUNY Chancellor, and top executives at Upstate University Hospital often clear $1 million. In the 2024 records, Mantosh Dewan and other hospital VPs were consistently at the top of the heap.
How to Use the Data for Yourself
If you're using a new york state salary look up to negotiate a raise, don't just look at names. Look at titles and regions.
The "Locality Pay" is a huge factor.
For 2026, the federal locality payment for the New York-Newark area jumped, and state thresholds followed suit. As of January 1, 2026, the minimum salary for "exempt" (salaried) employees in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester is $1,275.50 per week. That’s about $66,300 a year. If you’re being offered less for a professional role in those areas, someone is breaking the law.
Upstate is different. The threshold there is $1,199.10 per week ($62,353.20 annually).
Actionable Steps for Your Search
- Identify the Branch: Is the person a state worker, a city worker, or a teacher? Teachers (outside NYC) are in a separate database on SeeThroughNY.
- Use the "Pay Year" correctly: Most databases are lagging by about 6 to 12 months. If you’re looking for 2026 data in February 2026, you won't find it. You'll be looking at the 2025 "close-out" numbers.
- Check for "Extra Pay": Look for columns labeled "Other" or "Overtime." This is where the budget-busting numbers usually hide.
- Verify the Employer: Many people work for "Public Authorities" (like the Thruway Authority) which are technically separate from "State Agencies." If you can't find them in one search, toggle to the other.
New York’s commitment to transparency is great, but it requires a bit of detective work. Whether you're a taxpayer keeping tabs on the budget or an employee making sure you're not being lowballed, these tools are your best friend.
Just remember that the numbers on the screen don't always tell the whole story of the work behind the paycheck.
For your next move, go to the Open Book New York site and filter by your specific county. It’s the fastest way to see where the local money is actually going before the next tax cycle hits.