"Anyone 18 or Older Is OK"...Why New York City Hiked Snow Removal Pay to 45 Dollars an Hour

“Hourly wage raised to 30 dollars due to heavy snowfall”
Up to 45 dollars for overtime

In the aftermath of the heavy snowstorm that hit the northeastern United States, New York City has begun urgently recruiting snow removal workers. The pay is up to 45 dollars (about 65,000 won) per hour.

According to foreign media outlets including the New York Times and Secret NYC on the 24th (local time), the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) began emergency recruitment of snow removal workers after a snowstorm of up to around 60 centimeters was forecast. New York City's paid snow removal program operates by contacting pre-registered citizens in the event of an emergency such as a heavy snowstorm and deploying them to the field. They are responsible for clearing snow to ensure the safety and accessibility of public facilities such as sidewalks, bus stops, crosswalks, and fire hydrants.

On the 23rd (local time) in New York, United States, a man is clearing snow amid heavy snowfall. Photo by AP/Yonhap News

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a recent press conference, "We have increased the hourly wage to 30 dollars in light of the scale of this snowstorm," adding, "You can visit the nearest DSNY garage from 9 a.m., and you must bring two forms of identification so that we can process payment." New York City has also deployed 33 vans and 2 buses to quickly transport snow removal workers to the areas where they are needed.

The base hourly wage for existing snow removal workers was 19.14 dollars (about 27,000 won), and 28.71 dollars (about 41,000 won) per hour was paid for work in excess of 40 hours per week. However, as the scale of the snowstorm increased, the base hourly wage for emergency snow removal workers was raised to 30 dollars (about 40,300 won), and the overtime pay was increased to 45 dollars.

Emergency snow removal workers are hired on a day-to-day basis as needed. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and be legally authorized to work in the United States. They must also be physically capable of performing high-intensity manual labor outdoors during the winter.

Under New York City regulations, DSNY is responsible for clearing snow from public infrastructure, but building owners are obligated to clear the adjacent sidewalks themselves within a specified time limit. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to 250 dollars (about 360,000 won).

Meanwhile, starting on the afternoon of the 22nd, a powerful snowstorm accompanied by strong winds and heavy snowfall battered coastal cities in the northeastern United States. As a result, numerous flights were canceled at major airports in and around New York and Boston, disrupting operations. Some local governments within the snowstorm’s impact zone declared a state of emergency and ordered school closures for the 23rd as part of their response.