Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

Each occupation's median wage in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ run 0.0% below the national average (2024), so a Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ salary is worth about 1.00× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

OccupationMedian, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ · vs. national

1Family Medicine Physicians$371,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$145,210 – $409,190+52.0%
2Structural Iron and Steel Workers$83,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,080 – $109,770+33.2%
3Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$60,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,160 – $69,990+31.0%
4Chief Executives$279,080
Bachelor's degree
$110,590 – $564,510+30.4%
5Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$60,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,380 – $60,580+29.7%
6Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$63,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,880 – $77,510+27.1%
7Health Education Specialists$80,820
Bachelor's degree
$44,800 – $121,730+26.1%
8Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,620
Bachelor's degree
$56,960 – $100,640+23.7%
9Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$79,040
Bachelor's degree
$53,870 – $99,250+23.6%
10Firefighters$73,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,020 – $80,770+23.2%
11Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$81,200
Bachelor's degree
$64,420 – $98,480+22.5%
12Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,110 – $93,720+21.8%
13Labor Relations Specialists$115,940
Bachelor's degree
$65,340 – $171,490+21.5%
14Insurance Sales Agents$75,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,320 – $176,700+20.6%
15Special Education Teachers, Middle School$80,510
Bachelor's degree
$61,480 – $99,830+20.5%
16Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$57,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,620 – $79,760+20.2%
17Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$51,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,340 – $64,200+17.6%
18Personal Financial Advisors$122,420
Bachelor's degree
$64,670 – $464,630+16.5%
19First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$102,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,570 – $167,150+16.5%
20Highway Maintenance Workers$58,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,500 – $72,430+16.1%
21Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$122,700
Master's degree
$82,440 – $160,050+15.9%
22Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,070 – $70,590+15.5%
23Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$75,190
Bachelor's degree
$59,590 – $96,350+15.5%
24Orderlies$43,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,130 – $44,400+14.7%
25Procurement Clerks$57,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,870 – $63,800+14.3%
26Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$57,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,600 – $81,970+14.2%
27Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,740 – $90,330+13.7%
28Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$57,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,080 – $72,080+13.5%
29Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$107,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,390 – $120,250+12.8%
30Butchers and Meat Cutters$44,980
No formal educational credential
$29,930 – $61,550+12.1%
31Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,200 – $55,770+12.0%
32Couriers and Messengers$43,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,430 – $47,700+12.0%
33Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$39,640
No formal educational credential
$32,220 – $53,300+11.2%
34Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,990
Bachelor's degree
$59,840 – $99,620+11.0%
35Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$84,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,130 – $105,660+10.9%
36Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$62,970
No formal educational credential
$45,660 – $87,670+10.4%
37Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$74,930
Master's degree
$37,330 – $94,030+9.8%
38Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$48,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,390 – $67,010+9.7%
39Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,370 – $76,920+9.6%
40Production Workers, All Other$43,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,390 – $62,120+9.4%
41Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$59,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $76,940+9.0%
42Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$80,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,160 – $99,270+8.2%
43Skincare Specialists$49,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,870 – $70,890+8.2%
44Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,230 – $60,170+8.1%
45Chemical Technicians$64,740
Associate's degree
$45,900 – $98,950+7.2%
46First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$59,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,990 – $84,740+7.0%
47Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$64,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,240 – $80,480+6.9%
48Counter and Rental Clerks$44,140
No formal educational credential
$23,730 – $63,800+6.9%
49Paramedics$64,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,470 – $79,940+6.8%
50Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$52,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,620 – $78,490+6.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianAllentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$371,260	$145,210 – $409,190	+52.0%
2	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,630	$72,080 – $109,770	+33.2%
3	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,770	$43,160 – $69,990	+31.0%
4	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$279,080	$110,590 – $564,510	+30.4%
5	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,080	$35,380 – $60,580	+29.7%
6	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,420	$42,880 – $77,510	+27.1%
7	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$80,820	$44,800 – $121,730	+26.1%
8	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$79,620	$56,960 – $100,640	+23.7%
9	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$79,040	$53,870 – $99,250	+23.6%
10	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,020	$45,020 – $80,770	+23.2%
11	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$81,200	$64,420 – $98,480	+22.5%
12	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,800	$48,110 – $93,720	+21.8%
13	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$115,940	$65,340 – $171,490	+21.5%
14	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,080	$39,320 – $176,700	+20.6%
15	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$80,510	$61,480 – $99,830	+20.5%
16	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,370	$43,620 – $79,760	+20.2%
17	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,030	$36,340 – $64,200	+17.6%
18	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$122,420	$64,670 – $464,630	+16.5%
19	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,000	$59,570 – $167,150	+16.5%
20	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,360	$44,500 – $72,430	+16.1%
21	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$122,700	$82,440 – $160,050	+15.9%
22	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,610	$39,070 – $70,590	+15.5%
23	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,190	$59,590 – $96,350	+15.5%
24	OrderliesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,930	$37,130 – $44,400	+14.7%
25	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,830	$43,870 – $63,800	+14.3%
26	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,810	$36,600 – $81,970	+14.2%
27	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,390	$48,740 – $90,330	+13.7%
28	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,520	$45,080 – $72,080	+13.5%
29	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,500	$76,390 – $120,250	+12.8%
30	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$44,980	$29,930 – $61,550	+12.1%
31	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,680	$37,200 – $55,770	+12.0%
32	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,920	$34,430 – $47,700	+12.0%
33	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$39,640	$32,220 – $53,300	+11.2%
34	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$79,990	$59,840 – $99,620	+11.0%
35	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,530	$53,130 – $105,660	+10.9%
36	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$62,970	$45,660 – $87,670	+10.4%
37	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$74,930	$37,330 – $94,030	+9.8%
38	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,990	$34,390 – $67,010	+9.7%
39	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,150	$39,370 – $76,920	+9.6%
40	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,890	$36,390 – $62,120	+9.4%
41	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,070	$47,110 – $76,940	+9.0%
42	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,390	$50,160 – $99,270	+8.2%
43	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,040	$22,870 – $70,890	+8.2%
44	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,930	$35,230 – $60,170	+8.1%
45	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,740	$45,900 – $98,950	+7.2%
46	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,880	$37,990 – $84,740	+7.0%
47	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,190	$47,240 – $80,480	+6.9%
48	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$44,140	$23,730 – $63,800	+6.9%
49	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,730	$51,470 – $79,940	+6.8%
50	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,880	$36,620 – $78,490	+6.6%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

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By field in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

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