Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Rochester

Written by:
February 17, 2021
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Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Rochester

Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.

As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Rochester, NY using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.

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#50. Pharmacy aides

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $28,450
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)
2 / 50
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#49. Dietetic technicians

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $28,980
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($52,880)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($45,910)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,730)
3 / 50
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#48. Nursing assistants

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $30,980
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
4 / 50
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#47. Orderlies

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $31,390
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)
5 / 50
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#46. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $31,820
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
6 / 50
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#45. Medical equipment preparers

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $32,150
- #161 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
7 / 50
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#44. Physical therapist aides

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $32,690
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
8 / 50
Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#43. Medical assistants

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $34,030
- #174 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
9 / 50
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#42. Pharmacy technicians

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $34,600
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,150

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
10 / 50
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#41. Phlebotomists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $34,630
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
11 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#40. Medical transcriptionists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $37,010
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
12 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#39. Dental assistants

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $39,630
- #181 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
13 / 50
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#38. Massage therapists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $39,700
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)
14 / 50
Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#37. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $41,770
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
15 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#36. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $42,710
- #299 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,830

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
16 / 50
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#35. Ophthalmic medical technicians

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $42,800
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
17 / 50
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

#34. Surgical technologists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $44,040
- #183 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
18 / 50
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#33. Recreational therapists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $45,150
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
19 / 50
Pixabay

#32. Psychiatric aides

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $45,890
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,590
- Employment: 55,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($48,280)
--- Rochester, NY ($45,890)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($45,010)
20 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#31. Athletic trainers

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $50,870
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
21 / 50
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#30. Physical therapist assistants

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $51,810
- #257 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
22 / 50
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#29. Occupational therapy assistants

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $55,570
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)
23 / 50
Rido // Shutterstock

#28. Opticians, dispensing

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $55,800
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
24 / 50
lenetstan // Shutterstock

#27. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $56,120
- #206 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
25 / 50
Halfpoint // Shutterstock

#26. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $56,400
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
26 / 50
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#25. Dietitians and nutritionists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $60,240
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
27 / 50
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#24. Respiratory therapists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $60,940
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
28 / 50
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#23. Dental hygienists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $63,070
- #293 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
29 / 50
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#22. Registered nurses

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $66,890
- #216 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,400

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
30 / 50
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#21. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $69,580
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
31 / 50
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#20. Speech-language pathologists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $72,010
- #253 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
32 / 50
SofikoS // Shutterstock

#19. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $72,800
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
33 / 50
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#18. Occupational therapists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $75,490
- #277 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
34 / 50
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#17. Physical therapists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $77,300
- #360 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)
35 / 50
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#16. Audiologists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $78,190
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,900
- Employment: 13,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reno, NV ($146,950)
--- Fresno, CA ($131,270)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($120,440)
36 / 50
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#15. Nuclear medicine technologists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $81,410
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
37 / 50
KSai23 // Shutterstock

#14. Chiropractors

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $85,060
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
38 / 50
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#13. Radiation therapists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $87,830
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)
39 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#12. Nurse practitioners

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $106,040
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
40 / 50
Ohiodominican // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Physician assistants

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $106,620
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)
41 / 50
Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

#10. Pharmacists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $109,480
- #364 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
42 / 50
Kzenon // Shutterstock

#9. Optometrists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $116,820
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
43 / 50
Austin Community College // Flickr

#8. Veterinarians

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $122,240
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
44 / 50
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#7. Dentists, general

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $174,950
- #170 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)
45 / 50
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#6. Family medicine physicians

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $184,870
- #216 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)
46 / 50
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#5. Nurse anesthetists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $189,850
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)
47 / 50
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#4. General internal medicine physicians

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $230,060
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)
48 / 50
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#3. Obstetricians and gynecologists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $233,500
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $233,610
- Employment: 18,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville, NC ($284,520)
--- Akron, OH ($282,650)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($281,800)
49 / 50
LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#2. Psychiatrists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $265,460
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)
50 / 50
Unsplash

#1. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists

Rochester, NY
- Annual mean salary: $268,190
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $252,040
- Employment: 36,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wausau, WI ($285,230)
--- Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ($285,210)
--- Asheville, NC ($284,780)

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