Advanced Manufacturing

The Greater Rochester, NY region has world-class advanced manufacturing & testing capability.

Photo by Matt Whittmeyer

Leading Advanced Manufacturers in Rochester, NY

World-Class Advanced Manufacturing Capability

The Greater Rochester, NY region has a large manufacturing business base and a highly-skilled workforce available at competitive wages to support a wide range of manufacturing applications. We’re strategically located within 500 miles of 1/3 of the U.S. and Canadian population. This puts us close to major markets without the major market costs of doing business.

In addition to unlimited water and a low cost of doing business, we have a strong regional competency in the areas of radio-frequency identification (RFID), sustainable packaging, drone technology, software development, and data analytics that can help forward-thinking companies develop the “marketplace of the future” and new manufacturing practices necessary to compete in the global economy.

Boasting top-tier talent, world-class research and development resources, and one of the nation’s most sophisticated, highly integrated supply chains to support the advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industry — all at a low cost of doing business, it’s no wonder industry leaders such as Edwards, part of Atlas Copco’s Vacuum Solutions division, and Corning chose to expand in the Greater Rochester, NY region.

Assets that Support Semiconductor Growth in the Greater Rochester, NY Region

  • Hub of 118+ semiconductor-related companies that tap into the Greater Rochester, NY region’s infrastructure
  • Access to unlimited water and low-cost power
  • Top-tier colleges and universities such as the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). RIT started the first-in-the-nation microelectronics program.
  • The University of Rochester is one of six sites for undergraduate research experiences in semiconductors by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with Semiconductor Research Corporation
  • #1 for STEM Degrees among large metros, which provides a highly skilled workforce to fuel your company’s workforce pipeline

RIT started the first-in-the-nation microelectronics program and produces more microelectronics engineering graduates in the semiconductor industry than any other private US university.

Photo credit: Elizabeth Lamark

Key Facts About Manufacturing in Rochester, NY

Cerion Nanomaterials Staff in a Lab

Photo credit: Cerion Nanomaterials

There are more than 1,500 manufacturers in the Greater Rochester, NY region, employing more than 60,000 people. This sector represents 12% of the local workforce. Greater Rochester’s manufacturing base is primarily in high tech precision sectors, with its largest employment sectors being computer & electronic products (10,018), machinery (9,770), fabricated metal products (8,093), plastic and rubber products (5,348), chemical (3,422), printing equipment (2,361), and transportation equipment (1,878). An additional significant force in the region’s manufacturing base comes from the food and beverage sectors. In food manufacturing, 6,614 workers are employed regionally with an additional 2,349 working in beverage manufacturing.

(Source: NYS Department of Labor)

Leading Precision Manufacturing Employers

World-class talent at competitive rates below the national average.

PositionRochester Annual Mean WageNational Annual Mean WageRochester Advantage
Chemical Engineers$73,480$117,82037.6%
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$43,420$46,4406.5%
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$59,710$64,5807.5%
Electrical Engineers$101,980$114,05010.6%
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$58,580$70,55017.0%
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$71,150$76,0206.4%
Industrial Engineers$94,310$98,5604.3%
Machine Feeders and Offbearers$34,780$39,10011.0%
Machinists$47,570$51,4307.5%
Mechanical Engineers$94,460$100,8206.3%
Production Workers, All Other$37,690$38,8603.0%
Sales Engineers$110,720$125,46011.7%
Solar Photovoltaic Installers$44,160$47,9707.9%
Technical Writers$71,800$86,76017.2%
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2022; Bureau of Labor Statistics

Commercial Real Estate

Skyline of Rochester, NY

Opportunities for growth await businesses of all sizes in the Greater Rochester region’s highly competitive commercial real estate market. Take advantage of low lease rates, a diverse range of sites, and the region’s advanced infrastructure.

Photo credit: City of Rochester Communications Dept.

Relevant Documents

You know your business.
We know Greater Rochester.
Let’s team up.

Photo by John Kucko

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