How Much Does an RN Make in Rochester, MN in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Rochester, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Minnesota.
BLS OES May 2025 · Rochester metro area
A typical RN in Rochester, Minnesota earns $48.87 per hour, or $101,660 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,472 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $81,960, and the top 10% of earners make over $127,540.
That pay is right at the Minnesota figure of $101,510 and 4% above the national figure of $97,550. Rochester ranks 4th of 6 metro areas in Minnesota for RN pay. About 6,390 RNs work in the Rochester area.
RN pay in Rochester at a glance
- Typical pay is $48.87 an hour, or $101,660 a year.
- That is right at the Minnesota figure, ranking 4th of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $81,960; the top 10% make over $127,540.
- Typical pay rose +70% from 2015 to 2025, against +41% for Minnesota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Rochester?
Pay in Rochester runs from entry-level positions at around $39.40 an hour to more than $61.32 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Minnesota and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Rochester
| Career stage | Rochester | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $81,960$39.40 an hour | $79,960$38.44 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $98,990$47.59 an hour | $88,940$42.76 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $101,660$48.87 an hour | $101,510$48.80 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $127,540$61.32 an hour | $114,760$55.17 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $127,540$61.32 an hour | $132,430$63.67 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rochester area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Rochester
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Rochester area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Rochester was $59,810 a year. By 2025 it had reached $101,660, a change of +70%, compared with +41% for Minnesota over the same years.
How Rochester compares with other Minnesota cities
St. Cloud pays RNs the most in Minnesota at $105,290 a year, $3,630 more than Rochester. The lowest-paying area in the state is Duluth at $96,940.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rochester | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Cloud | $105,290 | $50.62 | +4% | 2,910 |
| 2 | Mankato | $103,400 | $49.71 | +2% | 1,570 |
| 3 | Minneapolis | $103,040 | $49.54 | +1% | 43,600 |
| 4 | Rochester | $101,660 | $48.87 | this city | 6,390 |
| 5 | Onalaska | $98,370 | $47.29 | -3% | 2,920 |
| 6 | Duluth | $96,940 | $46.61 | -5% | 4,410 |
Every metro area in Minnesota with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Minnesota typical pay $101,510
Is Rochester a good place to work as an RN?
RN pay in Rochester sits close to the national figure: $101,660 a year, 4% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rochester area, about 52 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Rochester, MN?
- A typical RN in Rochester earns $101,660 a year, or $48.87 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $81,960 and the top 10% earn over $127,540.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Rochester?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Rochester is $48.87. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $39.40, and the top 10% earn over $61.32 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Rochester?
- Entry-level RN positions in Rochester typically offer around $39.40 an hour, or $81,960 a year.
- Is RN pay in Rochester higher than in the rest of Minnesota?
- Rochester pay is right at the Minnesota figure of $101,510 a year, ranking 4th of 6 metro areas in the state. St. Cloud pays the most in Minnesota at $105,290.