Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $101,650
- Median hourly wage: $48.87
- Total employment: 150 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Rochester, Minnesota
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Rochester. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
- Median annual wage: $101,810
- Median hourly wage: $48.95
- Total employment: 70 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $102,330
- Median hourly wage: $49.20
- Total employment: 280 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $102,580
- Median hourly wage: $49.32
- Total employment: 5,510 people (45.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $103,080
- Median hourly wage: $49.56
- Total employment: 120 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Personal financial advisors
- Median annual wage: $103,220
- Median hourly wage: $49.62
- Total employment: 70 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $103,470
- Median hourly wage: $49.74
- Total employment: 120 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $103,520
- Median hourly wage: $49.77
- Total employment: 470 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $104,050
- Median hourly wage: $50.02
- Total employment: 370 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
- Median annual wage: $105,140
- Median hourly wage: $50.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Management analysts
- Median annual wage: $105,530
- Median hourly wage: $50.73
- Total employment: 640 people (5.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $107,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $108,280
- Median hourly wage: $52.06
- Total employment: 60 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $108,290
- Median hourly wage: $52.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $111,130
- Median hourly wage: $53.43
- Total employment: 210 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Environmental engineers
- Median annual wage: $115,600
- Median hourly wage: $55.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $116,920
- Median hourly wage: $56.21
- Total employment: 110 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $118,300
- Median hourly wage: $56.88
- Total employment: 230 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $122,820
- Median hourly wage: $59.05
- Total employment: 1,360 people (11.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $122,980
- Median hourly wage: $59.13
- Total employment: 90 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $123,300
- Median hourly wage: $59.28
- Total employment: 150 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $124,740
- Median hourly wage: $59.97
- Total employment: 110 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $126,060
- Median hourly wage: $60.61
- Total employment: 300 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Web developers
- Median annual wage: $127,700
- Median hourly wage: $61.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
- Median annual wage: $128,820
- Median hourly wage: $61.93
- Total employment: 140 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $128,950
- Median hourly wage: $61.99
- Total employment: 30 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $130,330
- Median hourly wage: $62.66
- Total employment: 760 people (6.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $130,480
- Median hourly wage: $62.73
- Total employment: 1,630 people (13.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $133,000
- Median hourly wage: $63.94
- Total employment: 530 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $134,810
- Median hourly wage: $64.81
- Total employment: 230 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $150,730
- Median hourly wage: $72.47
- Total employment: 410 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $151,470
- Median hourly wage: $72.82
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $151,650
- Median hourly wage: $72.91
- Total employment: 80 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $154,610
- Median hourly wage: $74.33
- Total employment: 410 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $154,700
- Median hourly wage: $74.38
- Total employment: 110 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $156,910
- Median hourly wage: $75.44
- Total employment: 180 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $163,320
- Median hourly wage: $78.52
- Total employment: 70 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $163,490
- Median hourly wage: $78.60
- Total employment: 200 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $163,920
- Median hourly wage: $78.81
- Total employment: 100 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $168,730
- Median hourly wage: $81.12
- Total employment: 130 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $170,990
- Median hourly wage: $82.21
- Total employment: 390 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $175,600
- Median hourly wage: $84.42
- Total employment: 120 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $201,500
- Median hourly wage: $96.88
- Total employment: 100 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 120 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 440 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 160 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 130 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 950 people (7.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
