The Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Harrisburg, PA (2026)
The average salary in the Harrisburg metro area is $63,660 a year and the median is $49,610: 3% below the US median and the same as Pennsylvania's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $50,290, 217th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $63,660US $69,770
- Median salary
- $49,610US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $23.85BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 98.7US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Harrisburg earn
| Percentile | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,880 | $28,920 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $37,090 | $36,690 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $49,610 | $49,690 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $77,200 | $78,270 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $105,780 | $117,860 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $63,660 | $65,730 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Harrisburg
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Harrisburg area at 98.7 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $98,650 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items98.7
- Housing (rents)96.3
- Goods100.7
- Utilities108.1
- Other services97.7
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 98.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 96.3 |
| Goods | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 108.1 |
| Other services | 97.7 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Harrisburg
Mean annual wage in the Harrisburg area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Harrisburg area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $93,660 | $101,420 | -8% |
| Software Developer | $117,230 | $148,100 | -21% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $73,090 | $72,650 | +1% |
| Accountant | $80,290 | $94,750 | -15% |
| Electrician | $75,300 | $71,490 | +5% |
| Truck Driver | $63,960 | $59,710 | +7% |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,260 | $46,590 | -5% |
| Retail Salesperson | $33,880 | $37,310 | -9% |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,290 | $42,700 | -1% |
| General and Operations Manager | $124,590 | $134,940 | -8% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $52,830 | $53,780 | -2% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $36,590 | $38,730 | -6% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Harrisburg
BLS publishes estimates for 478 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
- 1Dentist$216,490
- 2Allergist and Immunologist$209,500
- 3Architectural and Engineering Manager$162,450
- 4Financial Manager$153,840
- 5IT Manager$153,340
- 6Veterinarian$150,780
- 7Database Architect$148,430
- 8Health Specialties Teacher, Postsecondary$147,510
- 9Lawyer$146,680
- 10Compensation and Benefits Manager$144,160
Jobs Harrisburg pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Dentist$216,490 · +13%
- 2Light Truck Driver$54,640 · +12%
- 3Kindergarten Teacher$76,520 · +10%
- 4Helpers--Production Worker$45,140 · +10%
- 5Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$65,730 · +9%
- 6Plumber$78,560 · +9%
- 7Sheet Metal Worker$72,760 · +7%
- 8Truck Driver$63,960 · +7%
- 9Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$56,100 · +6%
- 10First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$91,100 · +5%
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 Harrisburg: FAQ
What is the average salary in Harrisburg?
Across all occupations in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $63,660 and the median is $49,610, 3% below the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 335,010 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Harrisburg?
Above $49,610 out-earns half of workers in the Harrisburg area; the top 25% start at $77,200 and the top 10% at $105,780. Prices run 1% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $98,650 here.
Is Harrisburg expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Harrisburg metro is 98.7 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 96.3, goods 100.7, utilities 108.1. At local prices the median wage is worth $50,290, 217th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Harrisburg?
By mean annual wage: Dentist ($216,490), Allergist and Immunologist ($209,500), Architectural and Engineering Manager ($162,450), Financial Manager ($153,840), IT Manager ($153,340) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).