Highest-paying jobs in Rochester
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Rochester, NY, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
In Rochester, the annual mean wage is $56,830 or 2.5% lower than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $290,720. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
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#50. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $113,260
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $109,920
- Employment: 77,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($140,390)
#49. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $116,880
- #314 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#48. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $117,160
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)

#47. Database architects
- Annual mean salary: $117,260
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 50,440
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,830)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($156,530)
#46. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Annual mean salary: $117,450
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)
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#45. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $117,590
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)
#44. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $118,080
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)

#43. Actuaries
- Annual mean salary: $119,340
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,300
- Employment: 23,040
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($245,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,550)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($144,320)

#42. Web and digital interface designers
- Annual mean salary: $121,330
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,460
- Employment: 82,380
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($144,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,760)
#41. Administrative services managers
- Annual mean salary: $122,580
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)
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#40. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $123,100
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#39. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $123,230
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,720
- Employment: 79,640
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)

#38. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $124,280
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)
#37. Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $124,330
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)

#36. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $124,710
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)
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#35. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $126,980
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,980
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)

#34. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $130,060
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

#33. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $132,950
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- Employment: 266,160
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,760)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($141,470)
--- Iowa City, IA ($138,870)

#32. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $136,730
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)

#31. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $137,130
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)
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#30. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $139,430
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,380
- Employment: 8,840
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($231,930)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($219,920)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($205,040)

#29. Physicists
- Annual mean salary: $142,160
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $151,580
- Employment: 20,020
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($199,830)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($195,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($188,250)
#28. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $143,530
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)
#27. Fundraising managers
- Annual mean salary: $144,220
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,400
- Employment: 23,190
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($175,610)
--- Syracuse, NY ($155,700)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($153,980)

#26. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $148,130
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)
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#25. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $148,710
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)
#24. Public relations managers
- Annual mean salary: $148,990
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)

#23. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Annual mean salary: $149,780
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,520
- Employment: 27,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($225,610)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($208,310)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($200,980)
#22. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $151,500
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)
#21. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $151,560
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)
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#20. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $154,510
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,420
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($298,760)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($298,320)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($291,940)

#19. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $155,030
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)
#18. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $155,150
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)
#17. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $156,280
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#16. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $157,900
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,500
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)
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#15. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $177,600
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)
#14. Neurologists
- Annual mean salary: $178,810
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,660
- Employment: 7,120
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($350,140)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($348,500)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($346,670)
#13. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $200,150
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)
#12. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $202,500
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $242,190
- Employment: 58,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($359,200)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($350,330)
--- Sumter, SC ($334,810)

#11. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $208,780
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $249,760
- Employment: 25,520
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($360,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($360,740)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($333,190)
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#10. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $228,560
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $202,470
- Employment: 43,950
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, IL ($298,890)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($283,550)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($276,810)
#9. Dermatologists
- Annual mean salary: $229,690
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $302,740
- Employment: 9,230
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL ($352,500)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($349,550)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($340,840)
#8. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $235,200
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
#7. Anesthesiologists
- Annual mean salary: $236,820
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $331,190
- Employment: 31,130
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($367,320)
--- Tallahassee, FL ($363,190)
--- Fort Wayne, IN ($358,430)
#6. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $242,690
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $296,210
- Employment: 21,570
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($377,980)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($375,200)
--- Modesto, CA ($362,780)
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#5. Physicians, pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $250,400
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,180
- Employment: 11,010
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lexington-Fayette, KY ($351,450)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($344,900)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($341,360)
#4. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Annual mean salary: $280,900
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $270,090
- Employment: 11,610
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($356,830)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($355,740)
--- York-Hanover, PA ($344,470)
#3. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Annual mean salary: $284,770
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $306,220
- Employment: 16,260
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($366,650)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($364,290)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($354,880)
#2. Cardiologists
- Annual mean salary: $285,580
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $353,970
- Employment: 18,610
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($411,230)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($365,880)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($363,270)
#1. Emergency medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $290,720
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $310,640
- Employment: 36,180
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($368,310)
--- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($357,650)
--- Richmond, VA ($357,130)
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