NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – Payday could be a little sweeter for Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani than it was for his predecessors.
The New York City Council is considering a 16% pay raise for the mayor and other elected city positions, like each borough’s district attorney and the public advocate. It would bring the mayor’s salary to $300,500 per year and the city council members’ to $172,500.
If passed, this will be the first pay raise for New York City’s elected offices since 2016. The country has seen a cumulative 30% inflation rate in that time.
“I’m a single mom, I live alone, and so to be able to pay rent, it’s really been tough for me to do that,” City Council Member Althea Stevens told PIX11 News in December. “We should be able to take care of ourselves and our family.”
A committee will consider the legislation on Tuesday, but it will still need to go before the full City Council for a vote. If passed, the pay raise will start on Jan. 1, Mamdani’s first day in office.
As of September, the average hourly wage for private New York City workers is just under $44, which amounts to just over $91,000 per year, according to state data. Wages were much higher in some industries like professional and business services and finance.
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.