Top 10 Night Shift Jobs in New York City, NY
We’ve selected some of the top night shift jobs in NYC in preparation for the official launch of OysterLink in September 2024.
See the complete breakdown of salaries, responsibilities and benefits.
Top Night Shift Jobs in New York City
Roughly 15 million Americans work full-time in the evenings, nights or other irregular shifts.
This work schedule can result in working weeks that are longer than 40 hours. However, they come with a string of benefits attached, considering that night shifts often offer, among other things, premium pay.
We’ve curated a list of the top 10 night shift jobs in New York City to help you get started in your career or supplement your income.
Explore them below, complete with salaries, duties and benefits.
Luxury Residential Concierge
Night Chef
Executive Chef
Shift Manager
Shift Manager
Chef De Partie
Sous Chef
Wait Staff
Shift Manager
Senior Shift Supervisor
What Are Night Shift Jobs?
Night shift jobs refer to shifts that happen during atypical hours.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the majority of individuals employed in the United States work the regular daytime shift (84%). However, the remaining workforce has an atypical work schedule.
Outside of the regular 9–5 shift, the BLS categorizes the remaining working hours (including the night shift) into three groups:
- In the evening (between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.)
- Through the night (between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m.)
- Early in the morning (between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.).
While this breakdown gives us an insight into the different types of atypical work schedule, it is important to note that many industries have occupations that require both standard working hours and atypical ones.
For example, while healthcare workers sometimes have to work late at night or early in the morning, the majority of healthcare workers will still work the regular 9–5 shift.
See the working schedule of the majority of US workforce below:
[Source: BLS]
This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data.
Industries With the Most Night Shift Workers
While there are many industries that employ workers for atypical shifts, there is a difference among them according to when they begin their shift. See the number of workers that begin their shift at odd times below.
Evening Shift
Industries with a high number of employees that start their shift at 6pm include:
- Food preparation and serving related: Waiters, Bartenders and Food preparation workers are often required to work the evening shift.
- Sales and related: Retail workers, Cashiers and Real Estate Agents are some of the occupations that work during the evening.
- Personal care and service: This group refers to Hairdressers, Personal Trainers and Skincare Specialists–workers who help individuals with personal care, typically after the regular day shift ends.
- Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media: Musicians, Directors and Broadcast Technicians are among the workers who entertain audiences in the evening.
See how many workers employed in the above industries work at 6pm below:
[Source: BLS]
This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data.
Through the Night
There are several occupations that require individuals to work through the night. Those are:
- Healthcare practitioners: Doctors, Nurses and similar vocations often provide patient care 24/7.
- Healthcare support: Healthcare support vocations, such as Nursing and Veterinary Assistants, must always support healthcare practitioners.
- Production: Bakers, Machinists and Assembly Line Workers must work odd shifts to ensure consistent product output.
- Protective service: Firefighters, Police Officers and Security Guards are among the protective service workers who have all-night shifts to ensure public safety.
Employees working in the above industries often work long into the night.
See the percentage of total workers that are at their shift at 11pm:
[Source: BLS]
This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data.
Early in the Morning
Some occupations require individuals to start early in the day and work before the typical working day schedule.
Industries in which certain occupations work from 4am to past 8am include:
- Architecture and engineering: Architects, Engineers and Technicians often start their work before the 8am mark, sometimes working from 4am onwards.
- Construction: Carpenters, Equipment Operators and Roofers are some occupations that require early morning hours. More than 50% of all construction employees are already at their place of work by 7am.
- Farming, fishing and forestry: Agricultural Equipment Operators, Ranchers and Fishing Workers often must start before daybreak.
- Installation, maintenance and repair: Aircraft Mechanics, Industrial Machinery Mechanics and Telecommunications Equipment Repairers must fix the equipment at all times of day, regardless of when it breaks.
See the percentage of employees working in the above industries that are at their place of work at 5am:
[Source: BLS]
This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data.
Benefits of Working the Night Shift in New York City
There are several benefits of working the night shift in NYC.
Some of them are:
- Higher salary: Working the night shift in NYC usually brings in more income as employers tend to compensate individuals working unconventional hours better.
- Reduced cost of living: Working the night shift can directly impact your cost of living. Essential services, childcare and missed days of work are all decreased for individuals working the night shift.
- Less competition: Not many individuals prefer doing the night shift. Choosing to work odd hours can be the difference that helps you grow at the company in which you are employed.
- Reduced commute time: Working at night in NYC can mean shorter commute times due to reduced traffic congestion and crowded public transportation, allowing for a more efficient and less stressful journey to and from work
- Growth opportunities: Some night shift positions offer the ability to hone skills or improve in a particular area. Taking advantage of a smaller crowd or a lower workload can give you ample space to upskill.
Night Shift Jobs in NYC FAQ
While there are benefits to working the night shift, there are also factors that make it less desirable than working a typical day shift.Some of them include:
- Interruption of your sleep pattern
- Potential health risks due to irregular hours
- Lack of social interaction during the day
To prepare for the strenuous first night shift, you should adjust your sleep schedule ahead of time.
Additionally, you want to check your new place of work and make sure that it is well lit and comfortable.
Consider doing meal-prep at home to ensure you have enough food and snacks to last you throughout the night.
Night shift workers often receive higher pay due to shift differentials or bonuses, which compensate for the inconvenience and health risks associated with working during atypical hours.
Employers offer these incentives to attract workers to night shift positions and ensure adequate staffing coverage around the clock.
While the night shift and overnight shift can overlap, there is a difference.The night shift typically refers to any shift that goes past midnight.
However, the overnight shift typically refers to shifts that start at 10pm (or later) and go on until the early hours of the following morning.
What should you avoid during the night shift?
During night shifts, it’s best to avoid heavy meals and exaggerated caffeine consumption. Exposure to bright screens, artificial light or other unhealthy light sources can impede your ability to sleep during the day.
