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Registered Nurses salary in Rochester, NY

Registered Nurses in the Rochester, NY metropolitan area earn a median of $86,570 a year, an average of $92,250. About 12,340 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Registered Nurses pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$86,570
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$92,250
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$79,340
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$106,350
Top of the range
People employed
12,340
In Rochester metro area
Rent share of median wage
14.4%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Rochester

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,039
per month, in Rochester, NY
Income needed for median rent
$41,600
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median registered nurses wage
$86,570
108.1% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
14.4%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$46,628
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Rochester area. Read the Rochester, NY cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Registered Nurses pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Fayetteville, NC
-4.1%
Median $83,060
Mean $91,990
Employed 3,430
Des Moines, IA
-9.2%
Median $78,630
Mean $81,710
Employed 8,130
Cape Coral, FL
-4.3%
Median $82,860
Mean $91,830
Employed 8,700
Worcester, MA
+15.8%
Median $100,240
Mean $113,910
Employed 10,070
Columbus, GA
-4.7%
Median $82,500
Mean $82,120
Employed 2,790
Modesto, CA
+53.2%
Median $132,590
Mean $143,670
Employed 4,850
Huntsville, AL
-11.0%
Median $77,090
Mean $75,210
Employed 6,800
Port St. Lucie, FL
-5.2%
Median $82,090
Mean $90,470
Employed 5,310

See registered nurses pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $86,570 / year
$86,570
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax New York (NY)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.