NYC Emergency Snow Shovelers Now Earn $30 an Hour: October Sign-Ups in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island

NEW YORK, NY — New York City is signing up its winter snow crew early, and the job pays a lot more than it did last year. Emergency snow shovelers now start at $30 an hour, and the Department of Sanitation is holding in-person registration sessions across the city through November 30. The October sessions and the November 5, November 7 and November 14 sessions have passed. Still ahead, all in Manhattan: Thursday, November 19, Saturday, November 21, and Monday, November 30. You can also walk in on weekdays at the Jobs NYC Center downtown.

Thirteen sessions between October 3 and November 30, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m.; ten have already taken place. Show up 18 or older, legally authorized to work, and carrying the right original documents.

Need work now? Skip straight to the seasonal job links and start searching →

📍 At a Glance

💵 A Raise From $19.14 to $30 an Hour

The pay bump is the news. Last winter, emergency shovelers started at $19.14 an hour and earned $28.71 after 40 hours in a week. Under the change announced by the Mayor's Office on September 15, the base rate is now $30 and the overtime rate is $45.

Shovelers are called in after heavy snowfalls to clear what plows can't reach: bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants and the city's step streets. Last winter more than 7,800 people took part, clearing about 135,000 crosswalks, 34,000 bus stops and 29,000 hydrants, according to the city.

"When the snow comes, our city needs to be ready," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in announcing the raise.

✅ What to Bring on Registration Day

Come prepared. DSNY asks for original, unexpired documents, not photocopies:

• Your Social Security card, the original
• Identification from the federal I-9 list of acceptable documents
• A working phone number and email address
• Optional: a completed federal W-4 and New York State IT-2104 withholding form

Photos are taken on site. Fill out the tax forms at home to save time in line.

⚠️ Read This Before You Go

This is on-call work, not a steady paycheck. Hours depend entirely on how much snow falls, and a mild winter can mean few or no shifts. Treat it as solid extra income, not your only job.

The work is hard, heavy labor in bad weather. Dress for it.

Timing matters too. People who register before November 30 get a paid four-hour orientation in December and faster payment, with checks processed within two weeks of working. Expect a confirmation email about three weeks after registering, then a garage assignment based on borough needs and your top three choices. Status questions after October 31 go to [email protected]. Earlier sessions ran in the Bronx on September 19, October 15 and November 7, in Manhattan on September 26, October 8, October 19 and November 5, in Brooklyn on October 3 and October 24, in Queens on October 10 and November 14, and in Staten Island on October 17. If none of the session dates work, the Jobs NYC Center at 2 Lafayette St. takes walk-in registrations Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Any more dates will be posted at DSNY's snow shoveler page.

🔎 Line Up Steady Winter Work Too

Snow shifts come and go with the forecast. Pair them with a steadier seasonal job: warehouses, delivery routes and building crews all staff up for the holidays across the five boroughs.

Start here:

• Snow removal jobs in New York
• Department of Sanitation jobs in New York
• Seasonal jobs in New York
• General laborer jobs in New York
• Maintenance worker jobs in New York
• Warehouse associate jobs in New York
• Delivery driver jobs in New York
• UPS jobs in New York
• Building porter jobs in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do NYC emergency snow shovelers make?

Pay starts at $30 an hour and rises to $45 an hour after the first 40 hours worked in a week.

When and where are the upcoming registration events?

All three remaining sessions are in Manhattan. Weekday sessions run noon to 4:00 PM at DSNY headquarters, 125 Worth St., 2nd floor auditorium, on Thursday, November 19 and Monday, November 30. The Saturday session runs 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on November 21 at PS 153, 1750 Amsterdam Ave. You can also walk in at the Jobs NYC Center, 2 Lafayette St., Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The October sessions and the November 5, November 7 and November 14 sessions have passed.

Who can sign up?

Anyone 18 or older who is legally authorized to work in the U.S. and can handle heavy physical labor in winter conditions. No prior experience requirement is listed.

Do I have to register before November 30?

November 30 is the date that matters for perks: registering before it gets you a paid orientation in December and faster pay once you start working.

Get Ahead of Winter Hiring in New York

Snow work is one piece of a winter paycheck. Create your free job seeker account to get seen by employers across the city, and explore the LocalJobPage Career Center for field-by-field guides.

Employers: staffing up for the holidays or the winter season? Post your openings here and reach New York job seekers directly.

Related Reading

• NYC Will Pay for Your Job Training: Free Queens Sessions This October
• New York City's Civil Service Door Is Open Right Now
• Warehouse Associate Jobs

Put the forms in a folder tonight, then head to Worth Street, Lafayette Street or Amsterdam Avenue on the day that fits. When the first big storm hits, you'll already be on the list.

Updated October 31, 2026: added two registration sessions at DSNY headquarters, 125 Worth St., on Thursday, Nov. 5 and Thursday, Nov. 19, noon to 4 p.m. Starting Monday, Nov. 2, you can also register as a walk-in at the Jobs NYC Center, 2 Lafayette St., Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Updated October 17, 2026: added four registration sessions: Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Lehman High School, 3000 E. Tremont Ave., Bronx; Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the office of Assembly Member Larinda Hooks, 104-20 Northern Blvd., Queens; Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at PS 153, 1750 Amsterdam Ave., Manhattan; and Monday, Nov. 30, noon to 4 p.m., at DSNY headquarters, 125 Worth St. Updated October 8, 2026: added three registration sessions: Thursday, Oct. 15, noon to 4 p.m., at DSNY Graffiti Headquarters, 1628 Bathgate Ave., Bronx; Monday, Oct. 19, noon to 4 p.m., at DSNY headquarters, 125 Worth St.; and Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at PS 197 Kings Highway Academy, 1599 East 22nd St., Brooklyn. Updated September 30, 2026: added a Manhattan registration session on Thursday, Oct. 8, noon to 4 p.m., at DSNY headquarters, 125 Worth St. The W-4 and IT-2104 tax forms are now optional.