The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Allentown, PA-NJ (2026)
The average salary in the Allentown metro area is $64,090 a year and the median is $48,990: 4% below the US median and 1% below Pennsylvania's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $49,010, 278th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $64,090US $69,770
- Median salary
- $48,990US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $23.55BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 100.0US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Allentown earn
| Percentile | Allentown area | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,720 | $28,920 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $37,260 | $36,690 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $48,990 | $49,690 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $76,050 | $78,270 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $105,280 | $117,860 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $64,090 | $65,730 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Allentown
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Allentown area at 100.0 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $99,970 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items100
- Housing (rents)105.5
- Goods100.6
- Utilities107.6
- Other services97.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 105.5 |
| Goods | 100.6 |
| Utilities | 107.6 |
| Other services | 97.8 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Allentown
Mean annual wage in the Allentown area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Allentown area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $96,600 | $101,420 | -5% |
| Software Developer | $124,430 | $148,100 | -16% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $78,000 | $72,650 | +7% |
| Accountant | $85,490 | $94,750 | -10% |
| Electrician | $74,820 | $71,490 | +5% |
| Truck Driver | $61,550 | $59,710 | +3% |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,610 | $46,590 | -2% |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,420 | $37,310 | -5% |
| Nursing Assistant | $43,640 | $42,700 | +2% |
| General and Operations Manager | $126,550 | $134,940 | -6% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $55,740 | $53,780 | +4% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $37,170 | $38,730 | -4% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Allentown
BLS publishes estimates for 501 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Nurse Anesthetist$234,190
- 2Pediatrician, General$205,860
- 3Dentist$192,920
- 4Computer Hardware Engineer$188,740
- 5Financial Advisor$186,180
- 6IT Manager$170,890
- 7Architectural and Engineering Manager$169,920
- 8Commercial Pilot$166,500
- 9Financial Manager$162,680
- 10Marketing Manager$161,450
Jobs Allentown pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Financial Advisor$186,180 · +19%
- 2Sheet Metal Worker$79,290 · +17%
- 3Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$81,780 · +13%
- 4Insurance Sales Agent$91,230 · +12%
- 5Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer$102,810 · +12%
- 6Coach and Scout$66,600 · +11%
- 7Middle School Teacher$79,720 · +11%
- 8Hairstylist$48,550 · +10%
- 9Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic$53,270 · +10%
- 10Packer and Packager, Hand$41,100 · +9%
Compare
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Allentown: FAQ
What is the average salary in Allentown?
Across all occupations in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $64,090 and the median is $48,990, 4% below the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 377,180 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Allentown?
Above $48,990 out-earns half of workers in the Allentown area; the top 25% start at $76,050 and the top 10% at $105,280. Prices run the same as the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $99,970 here.
Is Allentown expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Allentown metro is 100.0 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 105.5, goods 100.6, utilities 107.6. At local prices the median wage is worth $49,010, 278th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Allentown?
By mean annual wage: Nurse Anesthetist ($234,190), Pediatrician, General ($205,860), Dentist ($192,920), Computer Hardware Engineer ($188,740), Financial Advisor ($186,180) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).