Software Developers salary in Rochester, NY
Median pay for software developers in Rochester, NY: $109,940/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $64,120 – $166,290 · about 4,030 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($111,055) by −$1,115 (-1%).
What it's really worth in Rochester
With Rochester's cost of living at 98 (US=100), that $109,940 has the buying power of about $111,740 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $71,349 · median home $285,034 · median rent $1,597/mo.
How Rochester ranks for this job
On raw pay, Rochester, NY is 99th of the 186 metros we hold software developers wages for. Once Rochester's cost of living is applied, it ranks 129th.
The headline number flatters Rochester. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, software developers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Rochester
A median home in Rochester, NY costs $285,034 — about 2.6× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,597/mo works out at 17% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where software developers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Rochester.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Rochester | Rent vs Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $199,100 | +81% | 2.3× |
| San Francisco, CA | $172,340 | +57% | 2× |
| Seattle, WA | $167,030 | +52% | 1.4× |
| Santa Maria, CA | $154,200 | +40% | 2.1× |
Same job elsewhere in NY
| Metro | Median pay | vs Rochester | Rent vs Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $149,090 | +36% | 2.2× |
| Syracuse, NY | $123,780 | +13% | 1× |
| Buffalo, NY | $115,310 | +5% | 0.9× |
| Albany, NY | $111,710 | +2% | 1.1× |
Staying in NY keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires software developers around Rochester
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
Other jobs in Rochester
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.