Industry Expertise
Greater Rochester, NY region has expertise across a range of high-tech industries.
Photo by Sheridan Vincent
An Abundance of Talent and a Highly-Skilled Workforce
Companies in Rochester, NY have capitalized on our area’s proximity to major markets, highly educated workforce, research centers of excellence, and industry expertise. Work with leaders in fields such as food and beverage manufacturing, optics, photonics and imaging, biotech and life sciences, energy innovation, software, and IT services.
We have an abundance of talent powering incredible innovations such as cancer-preventing vaccines, fuel-cell prototypes, and the technology supporting missions to Mars. It’s the innovation hub that’s inspired L3Harris, Security Risk Advisors, Toyota Material Handling North America, CooperVision, and other future-focused companies to expand here.
KEY INDUSTRIES
Greater Rochester, New York’s Key Industries
Encompassing everything from precision-engineered technologies to the next breakthroughs in your favorite foods and beverages.
Greater Rochester, NY – Where smart people live and smart businesses grow.
World-class talent at competitive rates below the national average.
| Position | Rochester Annual Mean Wage | National Annual Mean Wage | Rochester Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Occupations | $63,200 | $65,470 | 3.5% |
| Select Engineering/Science Occupations | |||
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $103,010 | $106,700 | 357% |
| Chemical Engineers | $82,750 | $122,910 | 32.7% |
| Electrical Engineers | $103,530 | $117,680 | 27.0% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $59,880 | $75,290 | 20.5% |
| Engineers, All Other | $107,820 | $118,350 | 7.0% |
| Industrial Engineers | $98,090 | $103,150 | 4.9% |
| Mechanical Engineers | $92,610 | $105,220 | 12.0% |
| Select IT/Computer Occupations | |||
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $167,000 | $180,720 | 7.6% |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $115,990 | $147,770 | 21.5% |
| Computer Network Architects | $114,660 | $133,930 | 14.4% |
| Database Administrators | $97,020 | $104,810 | 7.4% |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $93,550 | $100,580 | 7.0% |
| Software Developers | $115,160 | $138,110 | 16.6% |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $100,190 | $108,460 | 7.6% |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $88,360 | $108,820 | 18.8% |
| Select Production-Related Occupations | |||
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,590 | $48,480 | 10.1% |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | $49,150 | $51,030 | 3.7% |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $65,960 | $72,430 | 8.9% |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $41,260 | $44,450 | 7.2% |
| Machinists | $51,180 | $54,600 | 4.4% |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,700 | $41,400 | 8.9% |
| Select Administrative/Office Occupations | |||
| Budget Analysts | $81,010 | $87,680 | 7.6% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $76,490 | $89,130 | 14.2% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $104,820 | $112,950 | 7.2% |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $75,250 | $89,650 | 16.1% |
| Project Management Specialists | $100,010 | $104,920 | 4.7% |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $41,680 | $54,150 | 23.0% |
| Sales Engineers | $110,660 | $130,550 | 15.2% |
Relevant Documents
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
You know your business.
We know Greater Rochester.
Let’s team up.
Photo by John Kucko
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
President, 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