Startender
DJ Jobs in New York City
Get discovered by NYC’s best bars and clubs — and skip the résumé pile.
How to get hired fast
- The best shifts never hit a job board — they go to who venues have already seen.
- Keep a portfolio of your real work and your availability up to date.
- Be fast, reliable, easy to book. In NYC, reputation beats a résumé.
Where the work is
- the Lower East Side
- Williamsburg & Bushwick
- the West Village
- Midtown & Hell’s Kitchen
- Astoria
- the Meatpacking District
What it pays
Roughly $200–$800 on a strong night with tips — more at high-volume clubs and bottle service.
Why Startender
A private, invite-only network where New York City venues find and book DJs directly. Free for talent. No résumé spam, no bots, no BS.
FAQ
How do I get a DJ job in New York City?
The fastest route in New York City is being seen by the right venues before a role is even posted. Build a profile that shows your real work — photos, experience and personality — keep your availability current, and let bars and clubs reach out to you directly. New York City bar hiring moves on referrals and reputation, not résumé blasts.
Do you need experience to work as a DJ in New York City?
Plenty of New York City venues hire and train newcomers and promote from within, so you can break in without years of experience. A strong portfolio of real shifts helps, but attitude, speed and reliability win most DJ jobs here.
How much do DJs make in New York City?
NYC club and lounge DJ work runs from residencies to one-off bookings — the city’s density means steady gigs for DJs who network and build a following. Most working New York City DJs take home roughly $200–$800 on a strong night with tips.
What is Startender?
Startender is a private, invite-only network where New York City venues discover and book hospitality talent directly — bartenders, servers, cooks, chefs, hosts and more. It’s free for talent: build a profile that works like a portfolio and get found by real restaurants, bars and clubs.
DJ jobs in other cities
Other nightlife jobs in NYC
Helpful guides
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