SOC 27-3042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Technical Writers — Rochester
Rochester, NY · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Rochester, NY is $78,370 a year, trailing the national median of $90,390 by 13.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Rochester, NY is $78,370 a year, trailing the national median of $90,390 by 13.3%. Half of workers earn between $60,520 and $90,460. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $58,930 and the ninetieth at $120,530.
The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. New York leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $111,050. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 167th of 562 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,930 | −34.8% |
| 25th | $60,520 | −33.0% |
| Median (50th) | $78,370 | −13.3% |
| 75th | $90,460 | +0.1% |
| 90th | $120,530 | +33.3% |
| Mean | $81,810 | −9.5% |
Other metro areas in New York
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rochester run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $78,370 buys what $72,632 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 19.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$78,370as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,632US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $78,370 a year, 13.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,930 to $120,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New York, at $111,050.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Technical Writers in Rochester, NY?
The median annual wage is $78,370, or $37.68 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $90,390, so pay in Rochester, NY is 13.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Rochester, NY earns more than $120,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,930 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in New York, at $111,050 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in Rochester, NY. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data