15 Best Part-Time Job Platforms in NYC 2026 + AI Auto-Apply

Finding part-time or temporary work in New York City has never been more competitive. The city’s unemployment rate sits at 5.6% as of December 2025, while job seekers compete for positions across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and beyond. The good news: new platforms and AI-powered tools now let you find work faster and apply to dozens of positions in the time it used to take to complete one application.

This guide covers the best job platforms for temporary and part-time work in NYC, organized by type. We then break down the AI auto-apply tools that speed up your application process by 10x or more.

The NYC Part-Time Job Market in 2026

New York City’s labor force participation rate reached a record 62.6% in December 2025, with the employment-population ratio hitting an all-time high of 59%. Healthcare and social assistance dominate job growth, adding over 71,000 positions in the past year.

Part-time and temporary workers make up roughly 27% of the NYC workforce. Minimum wage sits between $16 and $17 per hour depending on employer size, translating to $33,000 to $35,000 annually for full-time equivalent work.

The most common part-time roles in NYC include hospitality positions (servers, bartenders, baristas), warehouse and logistics work (pickers, packers, general labor), retail (sales associates, cashiers, merchandisers), event staffing (setup, catering, brand ambassadors), and administrative support (receptionists, data entry, office assistants).

Competition remains fierce. The average job posting receives hundreds of applications within the first few days. Getting your application in early, with proper customization, dramatically improves your chances of hearing back.

On-Demand Staffing Apps: Work Within Hours

On-demand staffing apps connect you with shifts starting the same day or within days. No lengthy interview processes. No waiting weeks for callbacks. These platforms work best for hospitality, warehouse, retail, and event work.

Instawork

Instawork operates as the largest on-demand staffing app with over 8 million workers across 400+ cities, including extensive NYC coverage. The platform covers hospitality, warehouse, retail, and event staffing.

Create a profile with your experience and skills. Browse available shifts with exact pay rates shown before you commit. Book what fits your schedule. Complete the work. Get paid weekly, or daily if you qualify for the Top Pro Program.

The Top Pro Program rewards consistent performance with daily pay, priority shift access, and cash bonuses. Workers maintain a 4.6/5 average rating, and employers use these ratings when selecting candidates.

NYC roles on Instawork include bartenders ($20-35/hr), servers ($18-28/hr), line cooks ($18-25/hr), warehouse associates ($17-22/hr), and event staff ($18-30/hr).

Wonolo

Wonolo specializes in warehousing and manufacturing with additional coverage in retail and events. The platform helps large consumer brands fill last-minute warehouse and merchandising shifts during peak demand.

The interface prioritizes speed. Jobs get posted and filled in real time. For workers, this means same-day opportunities appear regularly. Complete your profile, browse jobs in your area, and apply with a single tap.

Payment arrives within a few business days of completing shifts. Employers leave reviews, building your reputation over time. NYC jobs on Wonolo typically pay $15-25 per hour for warehouse and event work.

Qwick

Qwick focuses exclusively on hospitality and event work. Restaurants, hotels, and catering companies use it to fill shifts for cooks, servers, bartenders, and event staff.

The hospitality-only focus enables targeted matching. If you have restaurant or event experience, Qwick provides relevant opportunities without sorting through warehouse listings. Same-day payment is available for many gigs.

NYC hospitality workers report strong earnings through Qwick, particularly for bartending and specialized culinary roles.

Shiftgig

Shiftgig connects workers with staffing agencies rather than directly with employers. This middleman model provides access to a broader range of temporary positions across food service, hospitality, retail, and experiential marketing.

Workers (called “Specialists”) undergo screening before claiming shifts. Payment arrives weekly via direct deposit. Eligible NYC workers can opt for DailyPay, accessing earnings before payday for a small fee.

Hourly rates range from $15-30 depending on the role, with promotional models and bartenders earning the highest rates.

Traditional Job Boards: Wider Selection, More Effort

Traditional job boards aggregate listings from thousands of employers. They require more effort per application but expose you to opportunities across every industry.

Indeed

Indeed aggregates job listings from company websites, staffing agencies, and direct postings. The platform lists thousands of part-time and temporary positions in NYC at any given time.

Use filters to narrow results by job type (part-time, temporary, contract), location (specific NYC boroughs), salary range, and posting date. Save searches and enable email alerts for new positions matching your criteria.

Indeed’s salary search feature shows typical pay ranges for specific roles in NYC, helping you evaluate whether opportunities meet your needs.

Glassdoor

Glassdoor combines job listings with company reviews, salary data, and interview insights. Over 43,000 part-time jobs appear in NYC listings as of January 2026.

The company review feature helps you avoid problematic employers before applying. Salary reports show what others earn in similar roles. Interview reviews reveal what to expect in the hiring process.

Research pays off. Fifteen minutes spent understanding a company often determines whether you land the interview.

ZipRecruiter

ZipRecruiter distributes your application to multiple employers simultaneously. The platform uses matching algorithms to connect candidates with relevant openings.

Creating one profile enables applications to multiple positions. ZipRecruiter shows salary ranges upfront for most listings. Current NYC temporary positions range from $16 to $60+ per hour depending on role and experience requirements.

Job Today

Job Today focuses on local hiring for hospitality, retail, and service positions. The platform emphasizes quick responses, with many employers reviewing applications within 24 hours.

NYC listings include barista positions, event staff, retail associates, and service industry roles. The mobile-first interface makes browsing and applying easy from your phone.

SimplyHired

SimplyHired aggregates listings from multiple sources and provides salary estimates for positions that do not disclose pay. The platform includes both temporary and permanent part-time opportunities.

Filters allow sorting by date posted, salary range, job type, and distance from your location. Set up alerts to receive notifications when new matching positions appear.

Staffing Agencies: Professional Temp Work

Staffing agencies place workers in temporary assignments with their client companies. You work for the agency, which handles payroll and job placement. These agencies often have access to positions never posted publicly.

Robert Half

Robert Half places temporary workers in professional roles including administrative, accounting, legal, and creative positions. The agency maintains a strong NYC presence with offices across Manhattan.

Temporary roles through Robert Half often pay $25-70+ per hour for specialized positions. Assignments range from a few days to several months. Strong performance can lead to permanent placement with client companies.

Atrium Staffing

Atrium specializes in office support, administrative, and professional roles in NYC. The agency places temporary workers in corporate environments across Manhattan and surrounding boroughs.

Registration involves skills testing, background checks, and interviews. Once in the system, you receive calls for assignments matching your qualifications.

Career Group Companies

Career Group places administrative, creative, fashion, events, and executive professionals in NYC. The agency has over 40 years of experience in the local market.

Recruiters provide coaching and market insights beyond basic job placement. If you target professional temporary work, agency relationships often produce better opportunities than online applications alone.

Why AI Auto-Apply Tools Change Everything

The average job posting receives 250 applications. NYC postings often receive more. Standing out requires both volume and quality, a combination that exhausts most job seekers.

AI auto-apply tools solve this problem. They handle repetitive tasks like filling forms, tailoring resumes, and submitting applications. You focus on strategy, networking, and interview preparation.

The best tools do not spray generic applications everywhere. They match your profile to relevant positions, customize application materials, and submit at human-like speeds. Quality-focused automation outperforms mass-apply approaches every time.

AI Auto-Apply Tools Compared

Several AI tools now automate job applications. Each has different strengths, pricing models, and approaches to automation.

LazyApply

LazyApply automates applications across LinkedIn, Indeed, and other major platforms. Users report applying to 100+ positions in a few days versus 5-10 manually.

The tool fills application forms automatically and tracks submissions through an analytics dashboard. Automated referral emails can go to relevant employees at target companies, potentially bypassing traditional application channels.

Users report multiple interview callbacks after scaling up application volume. The platform offers a 30-day refund policy for unsatisfied customers.

AIApply

AIApply combines resume building, cover letter generation, ATS optimization, and auto-apply functionality. The platform tailors every resume and cover letter to each job description automatically.

The ATS Resume Scanner validates documents before submission, catching formatting issues and missing keywords that cause rejections. Queue targeted submissions and let the tool handle delivery while you prepare for interviews.

Over 427,000 users have tried AIApply. The platform offers student discounts for those building early career experience.

Sonara

Sonara learns your preferences, finds matching jobs, and applies on your behalf. The AI handles the entire process from job discovery to application submission.

Connect your LinkedIn profile to find additional opportunities. Notifications keep you updated on application status and employer responses. The end-to-end automation means you spend less time searching and more time preparing.

JobCopilot

JobCopilot automatically tailors your resume for each role with the option to review before applying. The tool learns from your edits, improving personalization over time.

The platform applies exclusively to verified jobs on official company career pages, avoiding fake listings and scam postings. Users report securing interviews within weeks of starting.

LoopCV

LoopCV searches for jobs, applies on your behalf or gives you manual control, and tracks results. The platform collects new postings daily across your desired locations.

Advanced filters, keyword search, and company exclusion let you target specific opportunities while avoiding companies you do not want. LoopCV also emails recruiters directly with personalized messages.

Analytics show which resumes get more attention, enabling A/B testing and optimization of your application materials.

FastApply: The Best Choice for NYC Job Seekers

Most auto-apply tools focus purely on speed. Apply to everything. Hope something sticks. This approach generates low response rates and frustrates both job seekers and employers who receive poorly matched applications.

FastApply takes a different approach. The Chrome extension automates applications while maintaining human oversight through pause-and-review workflows. You control what gets submitted. The AI handles the tedious form-filling and customization.

Why FastApply Works Better

1. Broad Platform Coverage: FastApply works across all major job boards that NYC employers use, including Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Lever, Greenhouse, and Workday. Apply across platforms without learning different interfaces or filling the same information repeatedly.

2. Resume Optimization: The AI tailors your resume for each position, emphasizing relevant experience and matching keywords to job descriptions. This matters for ATS screening, where unoptimized resumes get rejected before human eyes see them.

3. Human-in-the-Loop: Unlike fully automated tools, FastApply pauses before submission. You review the application, make adjustments if needed, and approve. This prevents embarrassing mismatches and maintains application quality that gets callbacks.

4. Cover Letter Generation: FastApply generates customized cover letters that reference specific company details and job requirements. Generic cover letters get ignored. Customized ones demonstrate genuine interest and get read.

5. Intelligent Form Detection: The extension automatically detects application forms across different platforms and fills fields correctly. No more copy-pasting the same information into 50 different formats.

6. Complete Application Tracking: See every application you submitted, when you sent it, and the current status. Follow up appropriately without losing track of opportunities across multiple platforms.

The Speed Advantage

For NYC part-time job seekers applying across multiple platforms, FastApply transforms a 30-minute application into a 3-minute review. Apply to 10 quality positions in the time others apply to 2.

This speed matters for temporary positions where timing is critical. Jobs posted in the morning might be filled by afternoon. Getting your customized application in early, with proper keywords and formatting, dramatically improves response rates.

The pause-and-review workflow means you never sacrifice quality for speed. Every application gets your approval before submission, ensuring each one represents you well.

Building Your NYC Job Search System

Combine platforms and tools strategically for best results. No single approach works for everyone, but this framework provides a starting point.

• For Immediate Income: Sign up for Instawork, Wonolo, and Qwick. Complete your profiles thoroughly. Enable notifications. Check each app daily for shifts matching your availability and skills.

• For Traditional Applications: Set up Indeed and Glassdoor alerts for part-time positions in your target roles and locations. Use FastApply to process applications efficiently when new postings appear.

• For Professional Temp Work: Register with Robert Half or another staffing agency specializing in your field. Agency relationships often surface opportunities that never appear on public job boards.

Recommended Daily Routine

• Morning (15 minutes): Check on-demand apps for available shifts. Review job alerts from Indeed and Glassdoor. Note any positions worth applying to.

• Midday (30 minutes): Use FastApply to process promising applications. Review and customize before submission. Track what you sent.

• Evening (15 minutes): Update your application tracking spreadsheet. Plan tomorrow’s targets. Follow up on applications from earlier in the week. Check agency communications if registered.

This system balances immediate income needs with longer-term job search goals. On-demand apps provide cash flow while traditional applications build toward better opportunities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without reading the full posting wastes everyone’s time. Requirements like specific licenses, experience levels, or availability are non-negotiable for most employers.

• Generic applications get ignored. Even when using auto-apply tools, review and customize before submission. Two minutes of personalization often determines whether you get a response.

• Ignoring platform-specific requirements causes preventable rejections. Some employers only accept applications through their own career sites. Others require specific documents or formats. Read instructions carefully.

• Over-relying on automation without monitoring results leads to wasted effort. Track your applications. Note which approaches generate responses. Adjust your strategy based on data.

• Neglecting in-person networking limits opportunities. Many part-time positions fill through word-of-mouth before reaching job boards. Tell friends, family, and acquaintances you are looking. Attend industry events when possible.

• Forgetting to follow up after applying means missed opportunities. Send a brief follow-up email one week after applying if you have not heard back. Mention specific interest in the role and company.

Key Takeaways

The NYC part-time job market offers opportunities across every industry, but competition remains fierce. Success requires a strategic approach combining the right platforms with efficient application methods.

On-demand staffing apps like Instawork and Wonolo provide immediate income through shift-based work. Traditional job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor offer broader selection but require more effort per application. Staffing agencies unlock professional temp roles that often pay significantly more.

AI auto-apply tools multiply your application output without sacrificing quality. FastApply stands out by combining automation with human oversight, ensuring every application gets reviewed before submission while still achieving 10x speed improvements over manual methods.

Start with one platform from each category. Complete your profiles thoroughly. Apply consistently. Track everything. The NYC job market rewards those who approach it strategically and persistently.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best app for finding temporary work in NYC?

Instawork leads the market with over 8 million workers and coverage across 400+ cities. The platform offers the widest range of hospitality, warehouse, and event shifts in New York City. Wonolo serves as a strong alternative for warehouse-focused work, while Qwick specializes exclusively in hospitality.

How much do temporary jobs pay in NYC?

Pay varies significantly by role and platform. On-demand apps like Instawork pay $15-35/hour for hospitality and event work. Traditional job boards list positions ranging from $16/hour (minimum wage) to $60+/hour for specialized roles. Staffing agencies placing professional temps often secure $25-70/hour depending on skills and experience.

Do AI auto-apply tools work?

Quality-focused AI tools produce measurable results. Users report applying to 50-100+ positions weekly instead of 10-15 manually. The key difference lies in the approach: tools that customize applications and maintain human oversight (like FastApply) outperform those that spray generic applications everywhere.

How fast can I find a part-time job in NYC?

On-demand apps offer same-day shifts. You can sign up, get approved, and start working within 24-48 hours. Traditional applications through job boards typically take 1-4 weeks from application to interview to offer. Using AI tools to increase application volume speeds up the timeline significantly.

Is it worth registering with a staffing agency?

For professional roles (admin, accounting, legal, creative), absolutely. Agencies access positions never posted publicly and often pay 50-100% more than comparable roles found on job boards. The registration process takes a few hours but pays dividends in opportunity access.

What industries hire the most part-time workers in NYC?

Healthcare leads NYC job growth, adding 71,000 positions in the past year. Hospitality (restaurants, hotels, events) provides the most flexible part-time opportunities. Retail peaks during holiday seasons. Warehouse and logistics maintain steady demand year-round due to e-commerce growth.

Should I use multiple job search platforms?

Yes. Different platforms serve different purposes. On-demand apps provide immediate income through shifts. Traditional job boards offer career-building opportunities. Staffing agencies unlock professional temp work. AI tools like FastApply help you apply efficiently across all these platforms without spending your entire day filling forms.

Resources

NYC Labor Statistics: dol.ny.gov/labor-statistics-new-york-city-region

Indeed NYC Temporary Jobs: indeed.com/q-temporary-l-new-york,-ny-jobs.html

ZipRecruiter NYC Temporary Jobs: ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Temporary/—in-New-York

Glassdoor NYC Part-Time Jobs: glassdoor.com/Job/new-york-part-time-jobs-SRCH_IL.0,8_IC1132348_KO9,18.htm

Instawork: instawork.com

Robert Half NYC: roberthalf.com/us/en/jobs/new-york-ny/temporary