Pay data
Average Salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
The average salary in Pennsylvania is $65,730 a year and the median is $49,690, 3% below the US median (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices that median is worth $50,930: 26th of the 50 states and DC by median wage, 39th once local prices are taken into account.
- Average (mean) salary
- $65,730US $69,770
- Median salary
- $49,690US $50,980
- Median hourly wage
- $23.89BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 97.6US = 100 · BEA 2024
Calculator
Where does your salary rank in Pennsylvania?
About the 72nd percentile
You earn more than about 72% of workers in Pennsylvania.
At Pennsylvania prices, $75,000 buys what $76,870 buys at the national average, about the 72nd percentile nationally.
Interpolated between the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile wages BLS publishes for all occupations (OEWS, May 2025). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed. Price comparison uses BEA Regional Price Parities.
The spread
What Pennsylvania workers earn
| Percentile | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,920 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $36,690 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $49,690 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $78,270 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $117,860 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $65,730 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Pennsylvania
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states (US = 100). Pennsylvania sits at 97.6 overall, with housing at 85.1. To live the way $100,000 pays for at national-average prices, you would need about $97,570 here. Compare any two states or metros.
US = 100
- All items2% below US97.6
- Housing (rents)15% below US85.1
- Goods1% below US99.4
- Utilities9% above US109.3
- Other servicesthe same as US99.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 97.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 85.1 |
| Goods | 99.4 |
| Utilities | 109.3 |
| Other services | 99.8 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
By field
Average salary in Pennsylvania by occupation group
| Occupation group | Median | vs US | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management | $116,330 | -8% | 460,720 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $99,930 | -9% | 181,360 |
| Legal | $96,230 | -6% | 47,170 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $92,330 | -7% | 91,260 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $81,590 | -6% | 437,740 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $80,980 | -2% | 59,660 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $79,020 | -4% | 383,000 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $61,820 | +2% | 368,330 |
| Construction and Extraction | $60,520 | +2% | 219,050 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $59,510 | 0% | 224,700 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | $57,550 | -8% | 66,910 |
| Community and Social Service | $52,350 | -10% | 122,720 |
| Production | $47,710 | +2% | 366,080 |
| Protective Service | $47,690 | -5% | 135,600 |
| Office and Administrative Support | $46,720 | -2% | 659,390 |
| Transportation and Material Moving | $44,390 | 0% | 573,840 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | $38,930 | +6% | 7,750 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | $37,190 | -1% | 166,320 |
| Sales | $36,650 | -5% | 474,770 |
| Personal Care and Service | $34,880 | -4% | 132,420 |
| Healthcare Support | $34,270 | -11% | 395,970 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | $30,770 | -12% | 489,850 |
The jobs
The jobs behind Pennsylvania's pay
The most common jobs set the median; the best-paid set the top; the most over-represented jobs show what the state's economy specialises in (location quotient: the state's share of jobs in an occupation over the national share).
Most common jobs
By employment
- 1General and Operations Manager172,010
- 2Registered Nurse146,520
- 3Fast Food and Counter Worker142,220
- 4Retail Salesperson141,790
- 5Laborer and Freight, Stock, and Material Mover, Hand131,050
- 6Stocker and Order Filler119,840
- 7Cashier110,950
- 8Office Clerk, General107,500
- 9Customer Service Representative94,340
- 10Truck Driver87,550
Highest-paying jobs
Median, 500+ workers
- 1Cardiologist$579,120
- 2Radiologist$455,380
- 3Family Medicine Physician$306,030
- 4Psychiatrist$278,970
- 5Chief Executive$232,560
- 6Pediatrician, General$226,440
- 7Nurse Anesthetist$221,530
- 8Allergist and Immunologist$217,310
- 9General Internal Medicine Physician$213,310
- 10Airline Pilot$164,990
Most over-represented
Location quotient, 1,000+ workers
- 1Shampooer3.2x
- 2Rolling Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic3.1x
- 3Ambulance Driver and Attendant, Except Emergency Medical Technicians2.8x
- 4Heat Treating Equipment Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic2.8x
- 5Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairer2.6x
- 6Crossing Guard and Flagger2.6x
- 7Foundry Mold and Coremaker2.5x
- 8Social Work Teacher, Postsecondary2.1x
- 9Chemist2.1x
- 10Biochemist and Biophysicist2.1x
Cities
Average salary by city in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median | Mean | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $54,310 | $71,730 | 102.6 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $49,650 | $65,230 | 94.7 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $49,610 | $63,660 | 98.7 |
| Reading, PA | $49,440 | $60,950 | 97.1 |
| State College, PA | $49,220 | $62,190 | 96.8 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | $48,990 | $64,090 | 100.0 |
| Lancaster, PA | $48,210 | $59,620 | 98.3 |
| York, PA | $48,170 | $61,080 | 96.0 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | $57,150 | 94.6 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $46,610 | $56,630 | 95.4 |
| Lebanon, PA | $46,500 | $57,260 | 93.2 |
| Scranton, PA | $46,330 | $56,800 | 93.6 |
| Williamsport, PA | $46,050 | $56,390 | 92.3 |
| Erie, PA | $44,460 | $55,110 | 91.0 |
| Altoona, PA | $44,270 | $54,240 | 89.5 |
| Johnstown, PA | $44,110 | $53,460 | 85.9 |
Compare
States with similar pay
Method
About these numbers
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all occupations in Pennsylvania. Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Wages are straight-time pay before tax, including commissions and tips, excluding overtime premiums, bonuses and benefits.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Pennsylvania: FAQ
What is the average salary in Pennsylvania?
The average (mean) annual wage in Pennsylvania is $65,730 and the median is $49,690, 3% below the US median of $50,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 6,064,600 wage and salary workers in all occupations.
What is the average hourly wage in Pennsylvania?
$31.60 an hour on average and $23.89 at the median (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What is a good salary in Pennsylvania?
Above $49,690 out-earns half of Pennsylvania workers; the top 25% start at $78,270 and the top 10% at $117,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Prices in Pennsylvania run 2% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so $100,000 here buys about what $102,490 buys nationally.
Is Pennsylvania expensive to live in?
BEA puts overall prices in Pennsylvania at 97.6 against a US average of 100 (2024). Housing is 85.1, goods 99.4, utilities 109.3 and other services 99.8. To match a $100,000 national-average lifestyle you would need about $97,570 here.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Pennsylvania?
Cardiologist ($579,120), Radiologist ($455,380), Family Medicine Physician ($306,030), Psychiatrist ($278,970), Chief Executive ($232,560) have the highest median wages among occupations with at least 500 workers in Pennsylvania (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What are the most common jobs in Pennsylvania?
General and Operations Manager (172,010), Registered Nurse (146,520), Fast Food and Counter Worker (142,220), Retail Salesperson (141,790), Laborer and Freight, Stock, and Material Mover, Hand (131,050) employ the most people (BLS OEWS, May 2025).