Software & IT
Software and IT companies get top-tier talent, cloud computing, and cybersecurity expertise in Greater Rochester, NY.
Photo by Rochester Institute of Technology
Want Top-Tier Tech Talent? Look No Further Than Rochester, NY
Software, game design, and IT represent a large sector of the businesses here in the region. Nearby universities include the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester. Graduates from these universities have high-demand skills, such as programming, application development, big data mining, and security. They serve as a highly skilled labor pipeline of software developers, IT professionals, and engineers for local companies.
Photo credit: RIT
University Resources Available in Rochester, NY
The University of Rochester
The University of Rochester has identified data science as the centerpiece of its strategic plans and invested $100 million to establish an internationally-distinguished Goergen Institute for Data Science. University researchers are at the forefront of efforts to use big data to model and predict things like the spread of infectious diseases, track the popularity of political ideas, and understand consumer preferences.
Home of internationally recognized research in artificial intelligence and cognitive science, world-class resources in Big Data, Rochester is uniquely positioned to advance our understanding of how the brain makes sense of the world. Artificial intelligence research at the University of Rochester includes work on knowledge representation and reasoning, machine learning and translation, dialog systems, statistical natural language processing, automated planning, AI-based assistive technology, parallel computing, human-computer interaction, and computer vision.
Additionally, the University of Rochester’s Robotic and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL) is an interdisciplinary research laboratory where researchers investigate algorithms and models for robot intelligence and human-robot interaction in complex, uncertain, and dynamic environments to advance robotic exploration, manufacturing, rehabilitation, and medicine.
The Rochester Institute of Technology
The university’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences is one of the largest computing colleges in the nation, with more than 4,000 students in degree programs in computer science, computing security, software engineering, and interactive games and media. RIT’s MAGIC Spell Studios is an entrepreneurial initiative that focuses on the convergence of interactive gaming, film, and animation. It was made possible by more than $30 million in funding from Dell, Cisco Systems, The Wegman Family Charitable Foundation, and New York state.
RIT’s new state-of-the-art Global Cybersecurity Institute will make RIT a global nexus of cybersecurity education and research. They educate and train cybersecurity professionals; develop new cybersecurity and AI-based knowledge for industry, academia, and government; and perform systems and network security testing for a wide range of partners.
The Greater Rochester, NY Region Has IT All
Software and IT companies thrive here because of the area’s significantly lower real estate costs, world-class R&D resources, affordable and talented workforce, as well as the benefits of high employee retention.
Our region’s software industry supports the development of solutions that enable device management, more productive management of health information, and expense optimization software for telecommunication applications. Numerous IT solutions companies provide managed services, consulting, system integration, and software development services.
Great Schools, Greater Talent
The Greater Rochester, NY region is home to 18 exceptional colleges and universities, with more than 71,000 students and nearly 17,000 graduates each year. And Rochester is 1st for engineering, engineering-related technologies, and technicians, 1st for physical sciences, and among the top 5 for STEM Degrees when ranked against major metros with more than 1 million residents. We have a talented workforce with high-demand skills, such as programming and application development, as well as big data mining and security expertise.
Photo by J. Adam Fenster / University of Rochester
Game-Changing Innovation
Inventors, designers, disrupters and game-changers—whether they’re homegrown or drawn to the high-tech vibe, the Greater Rochester, NY region has a lot of them. So many, in fact, that Rochester is a top five patent-producing major metro per 1,000 workers.
Photo by Matt Wittmeyer
World-Class Talent at Competitive Rates Below the National Average
| Position | Rochester Annual Mean Wage | National Annual Mean Wage | Rochester Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $76,490 | $89,130 | 14.2% |
| Compliance Officers | $74,350 | $80,190 | 7.3% |
| 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% |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $72,580 | $78,640 | 7.7% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $90,840 | $112,430 | 19.2% |
| Computer Programmers | $92,800 | $107,750 | 13.9% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $97,830 | $110,800 | 11.7% |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $55,050 | $57,650 | 4.5% |
| Credit Analysts | $89,010 | $94,750 | 6.1% |
| Data Scientists | $91,570 | $119,040 | 23.1% |
| Database Administrators | $97,020 | $104,810 | 7.4% |
| Editors | $74,950 | $85,110 | 11.9% |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $67,710 | $74,440 | 9.0% |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $68,770 | $73,110 | 5.9% |
| Electrical Engineers | $103,530 | $117,680 | 12.0% |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $101,750 | $124,190 | 18.1% |
| Engineers, All Other | $107,820 | $118,350 | 8.9% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $104,820 | $112,950 | 7.2% |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $75,250 | $89,650 | 16.1% |
| Information Security Analysts | $105,450 | $124,740 | 15.5% |
| Management Analysts | $105,280 | $115,530 | 8.9% |
| Managers, All Other | $136,020 | $146,320 | 7.0% |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $93,550 | $100,580 | 7.0% |
| Office Clerks, General | $41,590 | $43,560 | 4.5% |
| Operations Research Analysts | $91,900 | $95,820 | 4.9% |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $55,080 | $57,610 | 4.4% |
| Sales Engineers | $110,660 | $130,550 | 15.2% |
| 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% |
| Web Developers | $91,740 | $95,570 | 4.0% |
Notable Rochester IT and Software Companies to Watch
Integrated management solutions
Document Technology
Communication systems and global defense technology
Medical imaging systems and IT solutions
Provider of backup, disaster recovery solutions
IT Professional services and software applications solutions
Cloud management
Software product strategy, data science, architecture, security, & development, user experience design, product marketing
Social media and programmatic display advertising, optimization and insights
Wearable display technology
IT consulting, security, managed services, Microsoft Partner
Internet of Things solutions
Cyber security and risk management consulting
Cloud software development, consulting, migrations and support; IT services
Smart software development solutions in Web, Mobile, and IoT
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, the Rochester region has it all.
Greater Rochester, NY – Where smart people live and smart businesses grow.
Relevant Documents
Learn More About Software and IT Companies in Rochester, NY
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
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