PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant - Surgical Practice
Trinity Health · Schenectady, NY
$19.00–$26.15/ hour
New this week
Medical Assistant jobs in Rochester, NY
Pay for medical assistants in the Rochester area centers on $20.78 per hour, or about $43,230 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.67 and the upper quarter over $21.80. That ranks 139th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 125th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Rochester. The free report below lists employers near Rochester and what they pay.
- $20.78median pay per hour, Rochester
- $19–$22typical range per hour
- 1,820medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 97cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Rochester, NY
The metro median is 6% below the New York statewide median of $22.14 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,820 medical assistants employed in the Rochester metro area, 3.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.72).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.27 | $38,000 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.67 | $38,830 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Median | $20.78 | $43,230 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $21.80 | $45,340 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $23.89 | $49,690 | 12% above U.S. median |
How Rochester ranks
- 139th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 125th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 11 New York metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Rochester
- Overall prices in Rochester run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.0, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $20.78 median hour buys what $21.41 buys at the national price level, 1% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Rochester Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Rochester, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Rochester paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$748
- Per year: $37,404
- Per month: $3,117
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Rochester metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Rochester
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $132 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,484 |
| 13-week assignment | $19,292 |
Travel medical assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Open Medical Assistant roles in New York
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Rochester as they open.
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Medical Assistant
Trinity Health · Clifton Park Family Practice, NY
$20.00–$26.15/ hour
New this week
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PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Medical Assistant – Surgical Office – Clifton Park
Trinity Health · New York
$19.00–$26.15/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Medical Assistant - Women's Health OB/GYN & Imaging center – Days
NewYork-Presbyterian · New York
$25.77–$30.41/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Part Time Medical Assistant
Premise Health · New York, NY
$25.00–$27.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Technician Medical Surgical/Medical Assistant- Brooklyn Medical Group
NewYork-Presbyterian · New York
$32.55–$39.06/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Hospitals in Rochester
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Rochester, 0 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Hospital Rochester, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Strong Memorial Hospital Rochester, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Rochester General Hospital Rochester, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Unity Hospital Rochester, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Unity Specialty Hospital Rochester, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Rochester Psychiatric Center Rochester, NY | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Monroe County
HRSA lists 8 active primary care shortage designations that include Monroe County (2 population-group, 6 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Medical Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | 66 mi | $21.62/hr | 276,617 |
| Syracuse, NY | 75 mi | $19.68/hr | 146,097 |
| Utica, NY | 121 mi | $19.99/hr | 63,660 |
| Erie, PA | 145 mi | $18.39/hr | 92,940 |
| Scranton, PA | 158 mi | $19.26/hr | 75,905 |
| Schenectady, NY | 188 mi | $20.13/hr | 69,495 |
Medical Assistant jobs in New York · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in New York
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New York requires for your role with the New York licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
New York taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Rochester
Rochester city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Rochester, NY?
Medical Assistants in the Rochester metro area have a median pay of $20.78 per hour, about $43,230 a year. The middle half earn between $18.67 and $21.80 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Rochester a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Rochester ranks 125th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 139th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Rochester?
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Rochester, led by Highland Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a New York license to work in Rochester as a medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New York requires for your role with the New York licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Rochester in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 8 active primary care shortage designations that include Monroe County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Rochester?
The federal per diem benchmark in Rochester is $132 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,484 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Rochester?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Rochester and across New York. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Rochester.
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What do employers near Rochester pay medical assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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220+ Medical Assistant roles in New York, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Medical Assistant pay reportRochester, NY · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- NewYork-PresbyterianNew York · 2 postings$31.95/ hr$26–$39
- Premise HealthNew York, NY · 3 postings$26.00/ hr$22–$38
- Glens Falls HospitalGlens Falls, NY · 2 postings$23.12/ hr$18–$28
- GoHealth Urgent CareElwood, NY · 6 postings$22.88/ hr$18–$27
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$18Median$22.88High$28
18 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in New York, 18 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 18 Medical Assistant roles
- Medical Assistant - Surgical PracticePermanent$19.00–$26.15/ hour
- Medical AssistantPermanent$20.00–$26.15/ hour
+ 16 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.