Pennsylvania Average Salary 2026
Average pay, top-paying occupations, and cost of living across Pennsylvania.
The average salary in Pennsylvania is $112,352 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2025 data aggregated across 2 metropolitan areas (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh). The highest-paying tracked occupation in the state is Obstetrician/Gynecologist at $320,040 median; 33 occupations pay six-figure ($100K+) medians. Adjusted for the state's average cost-of-living index of 105, the average median equates to $107,002 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Pennsylvania has 2 metropolitan areas in our BLS OEWS coverage. Wages within the state vary substantially by metro — large coastal cities typically pay materially more than smaller inland ones, though the cost-of-living gap closes a lot of the apparent difference. BLS OEWS data captures every metropolitan statistical area (MSA) above a population threshold. Cities below that threshold roll up to non-metropolitan areas, which are not represented in the per-metro view but are captured in state-level rollups.
For workers comparing Pennsylvania job markets, the per-metro pages give the role-specific breakdown that headline state averages obscure. The role-specific ranking pages — which list the highest-paying cities for a single occupation — are particularly useful when geographic flexibility is real and the role is the constraint.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Pennsylvania
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Healthcare · 250 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($320,040)
Family Medicine Physician
Healthcare · 3,520 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($294,430)
Pediatrician
Healthcare · 1,210 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($226,440)
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Technology · 20,380 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($173,470)
Lawyer
Legal · 24,590 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($170,660)
Dentist
Healthcare · 3,620 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($163,390)
Financial Manager
Finance · 24,980 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($166,920)
Marketing Manager
Management · 10,330 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($166,310)
Human Resources Manager
Management · 5,790 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($154,490)
Sales Manager
Management · 14,090 jobs in state · top metro: Philadelphia ($156,500)
Cities in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
65 occupations tracked · COL index: 118.4
Pittsburgh, PA
63 occupations tracked · COL index: 92.3
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary in Pennsylvania is $112,352 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2025 release aggregated across 2 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 Obstetrician/Gynecologist at $320,040 median.
The top five highest-paying occupations in Pennsylvania, ranked by employment-weighted median across all tracked metros, are Obstetrician/Gynecologist ($320,040), Family Medicine Physician ($285,338), Pediatrician ($221,273), Computer and Information Systems Manager ($169,737), Lawyer ($162,169). See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/state/pennsylvania.
33 of the 65 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 $115,700 across 65 BLS-tracked occupations.
The average cost-of-living index across Pennsylvania's tracked metros is 105 (national avg = 100). The state average median of $112,352 translates to $107,002 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 2025 reference period.
128 data points · BLS OEWS 2025 · last refreshed 2026-05-21
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.