Mechanical Engineering Degree in Rochester, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Mechanical Engineering degree analysis for Rochester, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$109K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$154K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.3 yrs
in Rochester
Cost of Living
140
index (100 = avg)
Mechanical Engineering in Rochester, NY Overview
Rochester, New York (pop. 211,328) has 13 colleges offering Mechanical Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 140 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,592/month. Mechanical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Rochester is approximately $109,200.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$13,886/yr
Private Tuition
$56,653/yr
Room & Board
$21,356/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,325/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Mechanical Engineering Salary in Rochester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rochester's cost of living index of 140 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Mechanical Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $138,000 senior level.Rochester adjustment factor: 1.40x based on the local cost of living index.
Mechanical Engineering ROI Calculator for Rochester
Estimate your return on investment for a Mechanical Engineering degree using local Rochester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,886 | Private avg: $56,653
Rochester avg aid: $10,325/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$140,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$60,200
vs HS diploma in Rochester
ROI Payback Period
2.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rochester
$1,189,032
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,330,000) minus total education cost ($140,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Mechanical Engineering in Rochester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rochester for Mechanical Engineering
University of Rochester
private
$60,550/yr
$242,200 total
Rochester Institute of Technology
private
$52,756/yr
$211,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Monroe Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Mechanical Engineering in Rochester
Rochester offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Mechanical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rochester Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Mechanical Engineering Job Titles
Mechanical Engineering in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$129K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$146K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$113K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$95K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$110K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$119K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$113K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Huntington, NY
$106K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Rochester
Petroleum Engineering
$70K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$115K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$70K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$112K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$112K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$70K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering Degree in Rochester — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Mechanical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Rochester.