Advanced Manufacturing
The Greater Rochester, NY region has world-class advanced manufacturing & testing capability.
Photo by Matt Whittmeyer
Leading Advanced Manufacturers in Rochester, NY
World-Class Advanced Manufacturing Capability
The Greater Rochester, NY region has a large manufacturing business base and a highly-skilled workforce available at competitive wages to support a wide range of manufacturing applications. We’re strategically located within 500 miles of 1/3 of the U.S. and Canadian population. This puts us close to major markets without the major market costs of doing business.
In addition to unlimited water and a low cost of doing business, we have a strong regional competency in the areas of radio-frequency identification (RFID), sustainable packaging, drone technology, software development, and data analytics that can help forward-thinking companies develop the “marketplace of the future” and new manufacturing practices necessary to compete in the global economy.
Boasting top-tier talent, world-class research and development resources, and one of the nation’s most sophisticated, highly integrated supply chains to support the advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industry — all at a low cost of doing business, it’s no wonder industry leaders such as Edwards, part of Atlas Copco’s Vacuum Solutions division, and Corning chose to expand in the Greater Rochester, NY region.
Assets that Support Semiconductor Growth in the Greater Rochester, NY Region
- Hub of 118+ semiconductor-related companies that tap into the Greater Rochester, NY region’s infrastructure
- Access to unlimited water and low-cost power
- Top-tier colleges and universities such as the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). RIT started the first-in-the-nation microelectronics program.
- The University of Rochester is one of six sites for undergraduate research experiences in semiconductors by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with Semiconductor Research Corporation
- Top 5 Major Metro for STEM Degrees, which provides a highly skilled workforce to fuel your company’s workforce pipeline
Photo credit: Elizabeth Lamark
Key Facts About Manufacturing in Rochester, NY
Photo credit: Cerion Nanomaterials
There are more than 1,500 manufacturers in the Greater Rochester, NY region, employing more than 60,000 people. This sector represents 12% of the local workforce. Greater Rochester’s manufacturing base is primarily in high tech precision sectors, with its largest employment sectors being computer & electronic products (10,018), machinery (9,770), fabricated metal products (8,093), plastic and rubber products (5,348), chemical (3,422), printing equipment (2,361), and transportation equipment (1,878). An additional significant force in the region’s manufacturing base comes from the food and beverage sectors. In food manufacturing, 6,614 workers are employed regionally with an additional 2,349 working in beverage manufacturing.
(Source: NYS Department of Labor)
Leading Precision Manufacturing Employers
World-class talent at competitive rates below the national average.
| Position | Rochester Annual Mean Wage | National Annual Mean Wage | Rochester Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineers | $82,750 | $122,910 | 32.7% |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,590 | $48,480 | 10.1% |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $40,070 | $42,900 | 6.6% |
| Electrical Engineers | $103,530 | $117,680 | 12.0% |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $65,960 | $72,430 | 8.9% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $59,880 | $75,290 | 20.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $79,020 | $76,380 | 3.3% |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $41,260 | $44,450 | 7.2% |
| Industrial Engineers | $98,090 | $103,150 | 4.9% |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $39,520 | $41,000 | 3.6% |
| Machinists | $52,180 | $54,600 | 4.4% |
| Mechanical Engineers | $92,610 | $105,220 | 12.0% |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,700 | $41,400 | 8.9% |
| Sales Engineers | $110,660 | $130,550 | 15.2% |
Commercial Real Estate
Opportunities for growth await businesses of all sizes in the Greater Rochester region’s highly competitive commercial real estate market. Take advantage of low lease rates, a diverse range of sites, and the region’s advanced infrastructure.
Photo credit: City of Rochester Communications Dept.
Relevant Documents
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Greater Rochester, New York’s Key Industries
Encompassing everything from precision-engineered technologies to the next breakthroughs in your favorite foods and beverages.
You know your business.
We know Greater Rochester.
Let’s team up.
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Thank You To Our Investors
High tech companies know Rochester as the optics mecca in the United States.
Matt Sydor
Vice President, Sales and Compliance, Sydor Optics
At Toyota Material Handling North America, which is comprised of two main group companies – Toyota Material Handling and The Raymond Corporation – we are committed to leading the way in energy innovation. We believe that the Greater Rochester, NY region shares that commitment, and is the ideal location to establish our cutting-edge energy storage and fuel cell development center.”
Jennifer Lupo
Vice President of Energy Solutions, Supply Chain, and Leasing, The Raymond Corporation
Rochester has a great work base. They’re loyal. They’re smart. They’re well educated and they want to succeed.
Jim Continenza
Executive Chairman and CEO, Eastman Kodak
We keep and maintain and are investing specifically in Rochester because that is where the talent is. We don’t succeed without the right talent.
David Velasquez
Vice President and General Manager, Corning Incorporated
Rochester has the manufacturing capability, testing capability, and intellectual horsepower.
Matt Fronk
Past Chairman, NY BEST
Rochester has a deep talent pool around all of the things that we need to do to commercialize advanced materials for the energy economy.
Ben Britton
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Ionomr
The decision to expand locally was a relatively easy one for CooperVision. The Rochester area has provided so many of the elements necessary for a successful operation.
Jerry Warner
President, CooperVision
The proximity to top colleges and industry-leading companies, in addition to the quality of life in Western New York, made the decision to open our second office in Rochester an easy one.
Mike Pinch
Director, Security Risk Advisors
“Rochester is world famous for precision optics manufacturing and photonics.”
Jennifer Cable
President, Thorlabs
We have a long history of people skilled in aerospace technology and precision optical assembly. We take advantage of the industrial base in the Rochester area. We also take advantage of the skill sets developed by our local technical institutions like MCC, RIT, or the University of Rochester.”
Tony Whitman
Cryogenic Optical Test Director for James Webb Space Telescope, L3 Harris
We have inherited an exceptional quality of life thanks to an impressive cluster of cultural organizations, unparalleled natural resources, and a resilient and welcoming spirit of community.
David Munson
President, Rochester Insititute of Technology
Once people get here and their families get used to short commute times, low home prices, the fact we have all kinds of recreational sporting activities, the quality of schools, they don’t want to leave.
Arunas Chesonis
CEO and Chairman, Sweetwater Energy
Rochester has provided ID Signsystems with the ability to grow and develop by tapping into the region’s large pool of design-focused talent, technicians, engineers and sign makers.
Paul Dudley
President, ID Signsystems
Our network of local universities, colleges, and optics companies has created a workforce pipeline that is unmatched anywhere in the United States.
Joseph Spilman
CEO, Optimax
GRE’s direction and guidance proved to be well worth our investment. Their passion to make the business environment in the Rochester area greater is very apparent.
Scott MacCaull
Workplace Interiors
There is unlimited, untapped technical talent in the area and I hope we start a wave of other companies moving to Rochester.
Austin McChord
Founder, Datto
Rochester has a long history of being a hub for telecommunications. There is a rich ecosystem of talent and services to support business growth.
Jai Ramachandran
Founder and CEO, Wire3
Rochester is the perfect size city to get business done. I’m always one connection away from anything I’m looking for.
Zack Phillips
President, Kink BMX
We have access to talent graduating from our businesses and technical institutions capable of perpetuating our success for years to come.
Marc Iacona
President & CEO, Simcona Electronics
The Rochester region provided convenient access to both railroads and major highways, as well as proximity to Barilla’s customer base in the Northeast.
Fabio Pettenati
Vice President of Supply Chain, Barilla America
We’re excited about this area. There’s high-quality milk in the region. There’s a lot of top talent. The industry, the innovation, the technical experience , the work ethic is all attractive to us.
Phil LaMothe
Vice President of Manufacturing, fairlife
The country is starting to recognize Rochester as a technical city outside of just software. We have optics and manufacturing that’s exceeding most of the baselines around the country.
Craig Lamb
Co-owner, Envative
Rochester has the resources optics companies need to transform their concepts into reality.
Dr. Duncan T. Moore
Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship and Professor of Optical Engineering
Rochester has a great base of intellectual capital in the science and technology fields at local businesses and universities.
Daniel J. Burns
Area Executive for Upstate NY, Western NY, and Pennsylvania, M&T Bank Corporation
We’ve developed vaccines to prevent cervical cancer right here in Rochester.
Peter Robinson
Vice President and COO, University of Rochester Medical Center
Among many great options, none could match Rochester in terms of talent, local supplier networks, and opportunities to partner with top-tier research institutions.
Andy Marsh
CEO, Plug Power