Pennsylvania Average Salary 2026
Average pay, top-paying occupations, and cost of living across Pennsylvania.
The average salary in Pennsylvania is $102,739 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2024 data aggregated across 1 metropolitan areas (Philadelphia). The highest-paying tracked occupation in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $170,330 median; 29 occupations pay six-figure ($100K+) medians. Adjusted for the state's average cost-of-living index of 118, the average median equates to $87,067 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Pennsylvania
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Technology · 12,820 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($170,330)
Financial Manager
Finance · 18,270 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($164,340)
Marketing Manager
Management · 7,270 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($161,340)
Lawyer
Legal · 18,270 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($148,030)
Sales Manager
Management · 9,020 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($144,910)
Human Resources Manager
Management · 4,220 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($144,450)
Pharmacist
Healthcare · 7,070 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($137,960)
Nurse Practitioner
Healthcare · 5,780 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($131,590)
Software Developer
Technology · 26,150 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($130,670)
Physician Assistant
Healthcare · 3,000 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($130,240)
Cities in Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary in Pennsylvania is $102,739 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2024 release aggregated across 1 BLS-tracked metros. The figure is employment-weighted, so larger occupations contribute proportionally more to the average. The top-paying role in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $170,330 median.
The top five highest-paying occupations in Pennsylvania, ranked by employment-weighted median across all tracked metros, are Computer and Information Systems Manager ($170,330), Financial Manager ($164,340), Marketing Manager ($161,340), Lawyer ($148,030), Sales Manager ($144,910). See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/state/pennsylvania.
29 of the 52 BLS-tracked occupations in Pennsylvania have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally.
Philadelphia, PA leads Pennsylvania with an average median salary of $102,739 across 52 BLS-tracked occupations.
The average cost-of-living index across Pennsylvania's tracked metros is 118 (national avg = 100). The state average median of $102,739 translates to $87,067 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. COL is roughly in line with the national average.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Pennsylvania, using the OEWS 2024 reference period.
52 data points · BLS OEWS 2024 · last refreshed 2026-05-08