Jobs that actually got a raise in Pennsylvania

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average (2024), so a Pennsylvania salary is worth about 1.02× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Pennsylvania.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Pennsylvania

OccupationMedian, Pennsylvania · Real change since 2019

1Gambling Dealers$48,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,560 – $85,530+104.5%+157.5% nominal
2Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$36,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,700 – $68,750+35.4%+70.6% nominal
3Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$66,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $70,310+32.5%+66.8% nominal
4Sales and Related Workers, All Other$42,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,870 – $78,750+32.1%+66.3% nominal
5Driver/Sales Workers$37,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$18,520 – $59,590+31.5%+65.6% nominal
6Family Medicine Physicians$306,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$156,000 – $413,250+28.4%+61.7% nominal
7Production Workers, All Other$44,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,440 – $58,170+28.0%+61.2% nominal
8Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$164,990
Bachelor's degree
$88,090 – $369,300+27.6%+60.6% nominal
9Waiters and Waitresses$34,690
No formal educational credential
$18,400 – $61,780+24.8%+57.1% nominal
10Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$44,870
Bachelor's degree
$30,470 – $63,930+24.4%+56.6% nominal
11Counter and Rental Clerks$42,910
No formal educational credential
$26,520 – $61,760+22.7%+54.5% nominal
12Biochemists and Biophysicists$134,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,890 – $172,820+21.2%+52.7% nominal
13Tree Trimmers and Pruners$58,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,800 – $75,750+20.6%+51.9% nominal
14Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$29,310
No formal educational credential
$17,890 – $38,580+19.8%+50.8% nominal
15Coaches and Scouts$48,730
Bachelor's degree
$21,170 – $119,060+19.6%+50.6% nominal
16Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$103,790
Bachelor's degree
$47,240 – $205,950+19.1%+49.9% nominal
17Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$48,240
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $66,660+18.2%+48.8% nominal
18Amusement and Recreation Attendants$28,090
No formal educational credential
$19,200 – $36,670+17.7%+48.2% nominal
19Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,020 – $78,670+17.6%+48.1% nominal
20Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$45,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,300 – $55,900+16.9%+47.2% nominal
21Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$33,300
No formal educational credential
$27,450 – $42,980+16.8%+47.1% nominal
22Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$29,130
No formal educational credential
$21,310 – $36,750+16.1%+46.2% nominal
23Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,810 – $61,370+16.0%+46.1% nominal
24Cooks, Fast Food$28,810
No formal educational credential
$22,610 – $42,380+15.5%+45.4% nominal
25Bakers$36,360
No formal educational credential
$25,430 – $50,470+15.4%+45.3% nominal
26Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$29,480
No formal educational credential
$22,650 – $35,900+15.3%+45.2% nominal
27Light Truck Drivers$44,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,560 – $82,170+14.9%+44.7% nominal
28Recreation Workers$35,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,940 – $55,030+14.8%+44.6% nominal
29Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$91,120
Associate's degree
$51,280 – $107,990+14.5%+44.1% nominal
30Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,050
Associate's degree
$56,430 – $97,740+14.2%+43.8% nominal
31Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,870
No formal educational credential
$27,370 – $42,450+13.7%+43.2% nominal
32Nursing Assistants$44,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,760 – $49,360+13.5%+42.9% nominal
33Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$29,170
No formal educational credential
$20,800 – $41,380+13.1%+42.4% nominal
34Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$45,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,780 – $67,450+12.4%+41.5% nominal
35Psychiatric Technicians$43,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,920 – $54,000+12.4%+41.5% nominal
36Residential Advisors$40,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,580 – $58,330+12.3%+41.5% nominal
37Stockers and Order Fillers$36,640
No formal educational credential
$28,040 – $48,530+12.1%+41.1% nominal
38Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$34,650
No formal educational credential
$25,420 – $46,930+12.0%+41.1% nominal
39Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,570
No formal educational credential
$22,030 – $35,880+11.9%+40.9% nominal
40Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,060
No formal educational credential
$26,970 – $41,880+11.6%+40.5% nominal
41Surgical Technologists$62,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,130 – $77,760+11.5%+40.4% nominal
42Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$42,480
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $56,280+11.4%+40.2% nominal
43Personal Financial Advisors$105,200
Bachelor's degree
$59,960 – $392,900+11.0%+39.7% nominal
44Cooks, Restaurant$36,580
No formal educational credential
$22,650 – $45,120+11.0%+39.8% nominal
45Couriers and Messengers$39,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,520 – $48,950+10.9%+39.6% nominal
46Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$31,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,970 – $37,400+10.8%+39.5% nominal
47Dishwashers$29,950
No formal educational credential
$21,550 – $37,110+10.7%+39.4% nominal
48Bartenders$28,420
No formal educational credential
$17,460 – $62,830+10.7%+39.4% nominal
49Orderlies$40,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,350 – $45,450+10.5%+39.2% nominal
50Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$44,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,060 – $60,960+10.2%+38.8% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianPennsylvania	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,230	$23,560 – $85,530	+104.5%+157.5% nominal
2	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,790	$23,700 – $68,750	+35.4%+70.6% nominal
3	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,970	$48,240 – $70,310	+32.5%+66.8% nominal
4	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,450	$26,870 – $78,750	+32.1%+66.3% nominal
5	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,330	$18,520 – $59,590	+31.5%+65.6% nominal
6	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$306,030	$156,000 – $413,250	+28.4%+61.7% nominal
7	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,290	$34,440 – $58,170	+28.0%+61.2% nominal
8	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$164,990	$88,090 – $369,300	+27.6%+60.6% nominal
9	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$34,690	$18,400 – $61,780	+24.8%+57.1% nominal
10	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$44,870	$30,470 – $63,930	+24.4%+56.6% nominal
11	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$42,910	$26,520 – $61,760	+22.7%+54.5% nominal
12	Biochemists and BiophysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$134,090	$82,890 – $172,820	+21.2%+52.7% nominal
13	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,200	$46,800 – $75,750	+20.6%+51.9% nominal
14	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$29,310	$17,890 – $38,580	+19.8%+50.8% nominal
15	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$48,730	$21,170 – $119,060	+19.6%+50.6% nominal
16	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$103,790	$47,240 – $205,950	+19.1%+49.9% nominal
17	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$48,240	$31,200 – $66,660	+18.2%+48.8% nominal
18	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$28,090	$19,200 – $36,670	+17.7%+48.2% nominal
19	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,580	$40,020 – $78,670	+17.6%+48.1% nominal
20	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,050	$36,300 – $55,900	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
21	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$33,300	$27,450 – $42,980	+16.8%+47.1% nominal
22	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$29,130	$21,310 – $36,750	+16.1%+46.2% nominal
23	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,760	$33,810 – $61,370	+16.0%+46.1% nominal
24	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$28,810	$22,610 – $42,380	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
25	BakersNo formal educational credential	$36,360	$25,430 – $50,470	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
26	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$29,480	$22,650 – $35,900	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
27	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,120	$27,560 – $82,170	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
28	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,710	$24,940 – $55,030	+14.8%+44.6% nominal
29	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$91,120	$51,280 – $107,990	+14.5%+44.1% nominal
30	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,050	$56,430 – $97,740	+14.2%+43.8% nominal
31	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$33,870	$27,370 – $42,450	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
32	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,590	$37,760 – $49,360	+13.5%+42.9% nominal
33	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$29,170	$20,800 – $41,380	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
34	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,250	$27,780 – $67,450	+12.4%+41.5% nominal
35	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,930	$36,920 – $54,000	+12.4%+41.5% nominal
36	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,010	$28,580 – $58,330	+12.3%+41.5% nominal
37	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$36,640	$28,040 – $48,530	+12.1%+41.1% nominal
38	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$34,650	$25,420 – $46,930	+12.0%+41.1% nominal
39	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,570	$22,030 – $35,880	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
40	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,060	$26,970 – $41,880	+11.6%+40.5% nominal
41	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,680	$47,130 – $77,760	+11.5%+40.4% nominal
42	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$42,480	$32,240 – $56,280	+11.4%+40.2% nominal
43	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$105,200	$59,960 – $392,900	+11.0%+39.7% nominal
44	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$36,580	$22,650 – $45,120	+11.0%+39.8% nominal
45	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,700	$30,520 – $48,950	+10.9%+39.6% nominal
46	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,330	$23,970 – $37,400	+10.8%+39.5% nominal
47	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$29,950	$21,550 – $37,110	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
48	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$28,420	$17,460 – $62,830	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
49	OrderliesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,140	$36,350 – $45,450	+10.5%+39.2% nominal
50	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,980	$36,060 – $60,960	+10.2%+38.8% nominal

More for Pennsylvania

Metro areas in Pennsylvania

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Pennsylvania

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Pennsylvania to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Pennsylvania

More for Pennsylvania

Metro areas in Pennsylvania

By field in Pennsylvania

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state