NYC Raises Pay For Emergency Snow Shovelers Ahead Of Winter

NEW YORK CITY — New York City is opening registration for emergency snow shovelers and increasing their pay to $30 an hour as the city prepares for the upcoming winter season.

Workers will earn $45 an hour after the first 40 hours worked in a week.

The changes follow a record 7,800 New Yorkers who participated in the program last winter, helping clear 135,000 crosswalks, 34,000 bus stops and 29,000 fire hydrants.

The Department of Sanitation also deployed shovelers during active snowfall and on evening shifts.

Those who register before Nov. 30 will be eligible for a paid four-hour orientation in December and expedited payment, with the city aiming to issue paychecks within two weeks of work.

Applicants must be at least 18, legally authorized to work in the U.S. and able to perform heavy physical labor in winter conditions.

The first registration event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Taft High School, 240 E. 172nd St. in the Bronx.

To register, individuals must bring:

• A valid phone number and email address
• Social Security card
• Completed W-4 (Federal Withholding) and IT-2014 (NYS Withholding) forms
• Completed I-9 form along with its required supporting identification documents (see official I-9 Acceptable Documents list)

DSNY previously required snow shovelers to bring their own printed photographs.

This year, photos will be taken at registration events, eliminating an additional barrier to joining the program.

Additional registration events across the five boroughs will be announced soon on DSNY’s @NYCsanitation social media channels and at nyc.gov/snowemploy.