Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
65 Highest Paying Jobs in Rochester, NY (2026)
The highest-paying job in Rochester, NY, New York is Family Medicine Physician with a median salary of $215,340 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 65 tracked occupations the average median is $105,564, with 28 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Rochester, NY has a cost-of-living index of 92.9 (national average = 100), so a $105,564 nominal salary equals $113,632 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 65 occupations below are ranked by median wage in Rochester, NY, NY, from BLS OEWS data. Rochester, NY's cost-of-living index runs 92.9 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within Rochester, NY, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Rochester, NY
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to Rochester, NY's cost-of-living index of 92.9 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $215,340 · 10th–90th $111,330–$428,790 · 190 jobs in metro
Family Medicine Physicians in Rochester, NY earn $215,340 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $428,790. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $231,798 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $210,250 · 10th–90th $74,030–$375,680 · 170 jobs in metro
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in Rochester, NY earn $210,250 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $375,680. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $226,319 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $204,340 · 10th–90th $135,520–$214,550 · 50 jobs in metro
Software Quality Assurance Analysts in Rochester, NY earn $204,340 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $214,550. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $219,957 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $170,000 · 10th–90th $115,720–$266,600 · 1,790 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Rochester, NY earn $170,000 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $266,600. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $182,992 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $167,800 · 10th–90th $99,990–$295,890 · 2,190 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in Rochester, NY earn $167,800 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $295,890. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $180,624 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $167,480 · 10th–90th $66,840–$230,380 · 430 jobs in metro
Dentists in Rochester, NY earn $167,480 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $230,380. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $180,280 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $165,140 · 10th–90th $84,690–$299,840 · 1,220 jobs in metro
Sales Managers in Rochester, NY earn $165,140 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $299,840. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $177,761 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $159,380 · 10th–90th $99,030–$187,690 · 120 jobs in metro
Optometrists in Rochester, NY earn $159,380 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $187,690. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $171,561 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $149,440 · 10th–90th $83,990–$265,570 · 1,470 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in Rochester, NY earn $149,440 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $265,570. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $160,861 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $148,150 · 10th–90th $82,190–$325,280 · 1,710 jobs in metro
Lawyers in Rochester, NY earn $148,150 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $325,280. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $159,473 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Full Ranking (65 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $215,340 | $111,330–$428,790 | $231,798 | 190 |
| 2 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $210,250 | $74,030–$375,680 | $226,319 | 170 |
| 3 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $204,340 | $135,520–$214,550 | $219,957 | 50 |
| 4 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $170,000 | $115,720–$266,600 | $182,992 | 1,790 |
| 5 | Financial Manager | Finance | $167,800 | $99,990–$295,890 | $180,624 | 2,190 |
| 6 | Dentist | Healthcare | $167,480 | $66,840–$230,380 | $180,280 | 430 |
| 7 | Sales Manager | Management | $165,140 | $84,690–$299,840 | $177,761 | 1,220 |
| 8 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $159,380 | $99,030–$187,690 | $171,561 | 120 |
| 9 | Marketing Manager | Management | $149,440 | $83,990–$265,570 | $160,861 | 1,470 |
| 10 | Lawyer | Legal | $148,150 | $82,190–$325,280 | $159,473 | 1,710 |
| 11 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $146,990 | $92,050–$247,310 | $158,224 | 680 |
| 12 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $136,310 | $123,610–$156,770 | $146,728 | 1,070 |
| 13 | Statistician | Technology | $131,140 | $67,310–$167,780 | $141,163 | 40 |
| 14 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $130,430 | $109,130–$155,390 | $140,398 | 1,230 |
| 15 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $128,110 | $105,340–$154,610 | $137,901 | 1,890 |
| 16 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $127,580 | $93,010–$200,440 | $137,330 | 200 |
| 17 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $124,990 | $67,690–$214,130 | $134,543 | 190 |
| 18 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $124,260 | $77,930–$275,330 | $133,757 | 1,510 |
| 19 | Software Developer | Technology | $122,770 | $79,580–$170,170 | $132,153 | 4,650 |
| 20 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $108,160 | $78,860–$163,650 | $116,426 | 1,000 |
| 21 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $107,200 | $78,610–$165,520 | $115,393 | 510 |
| 22 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $105,860 | $67,540–$166,830 | $113,950 | 410 |
| 23 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $103,690 | $54,090–$234,220 | $111,615 | 9,230 |
| 24 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $102,320 | $56,170–$215,320 | $110,140 | 410 |
| 25 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $101,150 | $61,190–$286,310 | $108,881 | 820 |
| 26 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $100,160 | $69,810–$135,730 | $107,815 | 1,040 |
| 27 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $100,150 | $75,140–$136,050 | $107,804 | 1,920 |
| 28 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $100,080 | $59,690–$157,300 | $107,729 | 670 |
| 29 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $99,460 | $68,830–$149,270 | $107,061 | 890 |
| 30 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $97,840 | $64,200–$132,460 | $105,318 | 490 |
| 31 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $97,240 | $64,990–$146,100 | $104,672 | 910 |
| 32 | Management Analyst | Management | $97,070 | $61,740–$162,030 | $104,489 | 1,810 |
| 33 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $96,750 | $54,630–$170,870 | $104,144 | 440 |
| 34 | Architect | Engineering | $95,480 | $66,140–$152,000 | $102,777 | 230 |
| 35 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $94,940 | $62,150–$153,180 | $102,196 | 1,160 |
| 36 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $94,270 | $77,620–$104,330 | $101,475 | 70 |
| 37 | Network Architect | Technology | $94,130 | $64,400–$132,450 | $101,324 | 1,130 |
| 38 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $93,650 | $80,290–$95,160 | $100,807 | 940 |
| 39 | Data Scientist | Technology | $92,800 | $49,070–$155,200 | $99,892 | 1,190 |
| 40 | Web Developer | Technology | $91,540 | $56,240–$165,120 | $98,536 | 400 |
| 41 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $86,570 | $79,340–$106,350 | $93,186 | 12,340 |
| 42 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $84,980 | $60,800–$159,950 | $91,475 | 170 |
| 43 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $83,420 | $56,680–$132,260 | $89,795 | 290 |
| 44 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $83,400 | $47,210–$152,330 | $89,774 | 110 |
| 45 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $83,070 | $66,070–$112,740 | $89,419 | 1,140 |
| 46 | Loan Officer | Finance | $82,280 | $52,180–$215,160 | $88,568 | 470 |
| 47 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $81,750 | $57,940–$109,810 | $87,998 | 740 |
| 48 | Database Architect | Technology | $81,490 | $49,570–$138,070 | $87,718 | 130 |
| 49 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $81,290 | $46,330–$99,860 | $87,503 | 1,140 |
| 50 | Accountant | Finance | $80,890 | $58,030–$130,690 | $87,072 | 4,370 |
| 51 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $80,220 | $55,500–$120,490 | $86,351 | 950 |
| 52 | Web Designer | Technology | $79,930 | $50,670–$132,370 | $86,039 | 140 |
| 53 | Electrician | Trades | $77,310 | $45,410–$107,910 | $83,219 | 2,540 |
| 54 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $77,170 | $46,030–$127,620 | $83,068 | 2,550 |
| 55 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $76,190 | $50,590–$94,680 | $82,013 | 4,430 |
| 56 | Plumber | Trades | $73,580 | $43,570–$100,140 | $79,203 | 1,460 |
| 57 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $71,740 | $43,640–$115,280 | $77,223 | 880 |
| 58 | Writer/Author | Creative | $68,600 | $43,040–$148,290 | $73,843 | 110 |
| 59 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $65,180 | $49,050–$98,320 | $70,161 | 650 |
| 60 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $63,530 | $42,090–$103,440 | $68,385 | 650 |
| 61 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $62,840 | $48,110–$92,670 | $67,643 | 5,100 |
| 62 | Carpenter | Trades | $59,490 | $44,360–$82,670 | $64,037 | 2,350 |
| 63 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $58,530 | $36,840–$78,400 | $63,003 | 2,310 |
| 64 | Paralegal | Legal | $57,250 | $43,100–$81,830 | $61,625 | 1,300 |
| 65 | Welder | Trades | $57,130 | $38,800–$70,520 | $61,496 | 650 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Rochester, NY
Rochester, NY's pay distribution reflects its mix of regional employers and industries, plus the local cost of living that affects nominal salary levels in the BLS data.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
Rochester, NY's cost-of-living index of 92.9 runs 7% below the U.S. national average. Lower nominal pay here often translates to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs — see the COL-Adjusted column for the apples-to-apples figure.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Family Medicine Physician with five-plus years of experience in Rochester, NY should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($322,065) or 90th percentile ($428,790), not the $215,340 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $215K Family Medicine Physician salary in Rochester, NY (COL 92.9) translates to $232K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Family Medicine Physician in Rochester, NY page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Rochester, NY is Family Medicine Physician with a median salary of $215,340 and a 90th-percentile reading of $428,790. The role employs roughly 190 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
28 of the 65 BLS-tracked occupations in Rochester, NY have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 65 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Rochester, NY is $105,564. The cost-of-living index is 92.9, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $113,632 in equivalent purchasing power.
Rochester, NY has a cost-of-living index of 92.9, below the national average. Nominal pay translates better than face value, making it a strong choice for many careers — particularly the Family Medicine Physician, Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Software Quality Assurance Analyst occupations at the top of the ranking.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.