Cost of hiring in Rochester, MN
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 14 jobs in Rochester, with about 1,250 people1. Medians run from $36,570 a year for virtual receptionists to $106,270 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Rochester
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +19.6% | 200 | |
| Bookkeeper | +15.2% | 790 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +11.3% | 1,000 | |
| Recruiter | +10.4% | 500 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +9.1% | 80 | |
| Executive Assistant | +7.4% | 150 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +5.4% | 320 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +5.1% | 1,250 | |
| Office Manager | +4.9% | 940 | |
| Project Coordinator | +3.9% | 460 | |
| Accountant | +0.3% | 760 | |
| Paralegal | -2.6% | 200 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -3.8% | 420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -4.2% | 450 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $47,050 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $60,710 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Rochester against the US
Rochester pays above the US median for 10 of the 14 roles, most of all for HR assistants (+19.6%) and bookkeepers (+15.2%), and below it for 3, furthest for sales development representatives (-4.2%). For accountants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 14 is +5.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs more here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for HR assistants, #6 of 384 areas by median pay; its lowest is for virtual receptionists, #232 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Rochester has more HR assistants (2.7% of these jobs here, against 0.6% nationally) and office managers (12.5% against 9.8%), and fewer executive assistants (2.0% against 3.1%) and marketing specialists (4.3% against 6.1%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Burlington-South Burlington, VT is nearest, at +5.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | +5.5% | 15 | 4,040 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | +5.3% | 16 | 9,370 |
| Rochester, MN | +5.3% (this area) | 14 | 7,520 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | +5.2% | 17 | 17,200 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | +5.1% | 17 | 16,050 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +5.1% | 17 | 18,600 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Rochester span $37,070–$142,490, the widest band (3.8×); HR assistants the narrowest, $47,990–$65,500. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 10 of 14 roles, project coordinators most ($61,580–$167,970 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, accountants and marketing specialists: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($77,260 against a $67,040 median for sales development representatives).
Rochester against Minnesota
Against Minnesota as a whole, Rochester pays more for 8 of 14 roles, led by HR assistants (+11.0%) and project coordinators (+8.6%), and less for 6, most of all paralegals (-19.0%). It has the highest median in Minnesota for project coordinators, recruiters and executive assistants and 3 more roles.
Other areas in Minnesota
By jobs in these roles, Rochester is #7 of 9 areas in Minnesota. The table shows the other 8.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 205,210 | 17 |
| Northwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | 14,710 | 16 |
| Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | 11,170 | 17 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 9,370 | 15 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 9,090 | 17 |
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | 8,050 | 15 |
| Mankato, MN | 4,700 | 15 |
| Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | 3,070 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Rochester?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $106,270 a year, about $137,123 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $36,570.
Is hiring in Rochester cheaper than the US median?
For 3 of the 14 roles, yes, most of all sales development representatives (-4.2%). 10 pay more than the US median, led by HR assistants (+19.6%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.