NY · Rochester · Updated October 15, 2026

Registered Nurse jobs in Rochester, NY

Pay for registered nurses in the Rochester area centers on $45.68 per hour, or about $95,010 a year. The lower quarter earns under $38.37 and the upper quarter over $49.92. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Rochester. That ranks 96th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 69th of 335 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Rochester.

Open Registered Nurse roles in Rochester

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Who is hiring registered nurses near Rochester

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
University of Rochester Medical Center10$47.03
Fresenius Medical Care1$39.81

Registered Nurse pay in Rochester, NY

The metro median is 10% below the New York statewide median of $50.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 12,510 registered nurses employed in the Rochester metro area, 25.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.20).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$36.69$76,32018% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$38.37$79,81015% below U.S. median
Median$45.68$95,0102% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$49.92$103,83011% above U.S. median
Top 10%$60.49$125,82034% above U.S. median

How Rochester ranks

  • 96th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 69th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th of 11 New York metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), 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 $45.68 median hour buys what $47.08 buys at the national price level, 5% 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.

Estimate your Rochester paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,644
  • Per year: $82,224
  • Per month: $6,852

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

ItemFederal 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 registered nurse 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).

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 registered nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Highland Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Strong Memorial Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Rochester General Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Unity Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Unity Specialty Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofitNot ratedNo
Rochester Psychiatric Center
Rochester, NY
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

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.

Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Buffalo, NY66 mi$45.86/hr276,617
Syracuse, NY75 mi$40.34/hr146,097
Utica, NY121 mi$41.36/hr63,660
Erie, PA145 mi$37.48/hr92,940
Scranton, PA158 mi$39.16/hr75,905
Schenectady, NY188 mi$44.46/hr69,495

Registered Nurse jobs in New York · Registered Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New York

New York is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the New York board for a license by endorsement before working here.

New York taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

New York state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Rochester

Rochester city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do registered nurses make in Rochester, NY?

Registered Nurses in the Rochester metro area have a median pay of $45.68 per hour, about $95,010 a year. The middle half earn between $38.37 and $49.92 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Rochester a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?

Rochester ranks 69th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 96th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring registered nurses in Rochester?

We list 11 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Rochester. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Rochester.

Do I need a New York license to work in Rochester as a registered nurse?

New York is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the New York board for a license by endorsement before working here. 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 registered nurses 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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Pay report · RN near Rochester, NY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RN pay reportRochester, NY · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • University of Rochester Medical CenterRochester, NY · 10 postings$47.03/ hr$39–$59
  • The Unity Hospital of RochesterRochester, NY · 10 wage offers$42.45/ hr$38–$52
  • Rochester General HospitalRochester, NY · 9 wage offers$42.38/ hr$37–$48
  • University of RochesterRochester, NY · 10 wage offers$40.69/ hr$38–$50

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$38Median$50.88High$66

281 RN postings with published pay in New York, 257 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 281 RN roles

  1. Registered Nurse – Home Care –Hudson ValleyPermanent
    $134k–$153k/ year
    NewYork-Presbyterian · New York · posted today
  2. Staff Nurse - Neonatal ICU-NightsPermanent
    $134k–$153k/ year
    NewYork-Presbyterian · New York · posted today

+ 279 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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