Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Reading, PA

Each occupation's median wage in Reading, PA 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 Reading, PA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Reading, PA run 2.9% below the national average (2024), so a Reading, PA salary is worth about 1.03× 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 Reading, PA

OccupationMedian, Reading, PA · vs. national

1Crane and Tower Operators$98,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,950 – $98,860+45.2%
2Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$70,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,790 – $70,310+40.2%
3Helpers--Production Workers$54,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,590 – $54,550+39.6%
4Tutors$55,270
Some college, no degree
$25,760 – $72,240+27.5%
5Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$68,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,230 – $108,170+26.7%
6Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$79,420
Bachelor's degree
$51,630 – $91,640+26.7%
7Firefighters$74,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,870 – $76,340+26.1%
8Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$81,120
Bachelor's degree
$60,640 – $98,690+26.0%
9Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,400 – $55,600+25.6%
10Machine Feeders and Offbearers$51,490
No formal educational credential
$26,470 – $59,210+24.9%
11Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$79,860
Bachelor's degree
$59,420 – $94,700+24.8%
12Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$54,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,350 – $61,690+22.8%
13Travel Agents$60,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,690 – $76,490+20.6%
14Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$54,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,620 – $63,530+19.2%
15Electricians$75,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $129,830+18.8%
16Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$77,230
Bachelor's degree
$55,280 – $98,140+18.6%
17Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$54,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,970 – $54,350+18.5%
18Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$54,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,830 – $60,890+18.2%
19Highway Maintenance Workers$59,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,310 – $74,490+17.7%
20Correctional Officers and Jailers$69,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,400 – $79,100+17.7%
21Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$77,740
Bachelor's degree
$60,870 – $94,600+17.3%
22Orderlies$44,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $48,450+16.2%
23Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$46,040
No formal educational credential
$35,410 – $55,370+14.4%
24Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$54,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,040 – $64,050+14.2%
25Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$87,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,670 – $114,300+14.2%
26Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,990 – $53,090+14.0%
27Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,000 – $76,940+13.8%
28Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$54,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,730 – $66,400+13.1%
29Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$44,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,650 – $55,080+13.0%
30Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,550 – $56,050+12.8%
31Brickmasons and Blockmasons$69,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,180 – $98,410+12.7%
32Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$52,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,110 – $62,380+12.6%
33Furniture Finishers$49,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,170 – $63,680+11.7%
34Public Safety Telecommunicators$59,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,540 – $62,580+11.4%
35Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$80,250
Bachelor's degree
$52,200 – $95,740+11.4%
36Education Teachers, Postsecondary$83,780
Doctoral or professional degree
$44,790 – $97,700+11.2%
37Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$46,310
Bachelor's degree
$36,260 – $78,740+11.1%
38Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$68,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,770 – $77,510+11.1%
39Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$82,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,910 – $99,860+10.6%
40Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,490 – $61,450+10.5%
41Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$70,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,040 – $128,550+10.5%
42Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$45,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $45,720+9.3%
43Education Administrators, Postsecondary$114,260
Master's degree
$75,090 – $172,300+9.2%
44Sheet Metal Workers$67,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,290 – $130,250+8.8%
45Order Clerks$49,860
Some college, no degree
$35,900 – $62,340+8.0%
46Nursing Assistants$45,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,560 – $51,680+7.7%
47Chief Executives$229,740
Bachelor's degree
$124,800 – $582,810+7.4%
48Chefs and Head Cooks$66,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,420 – $108,220+7.2%
49Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,060 – $65,910+6.8%
50Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,280
Associate's degree
$45,800 – $110,130+6.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianReading, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,860	$51,950 – $98,860	+45.2%
2	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,310	$50,790 – $70,310	+40.2%
3	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,550	$28,590 – $54,550	+39.6%
4	TutorsSome college, no degree	$55,270	$25,760 – $72,240	+27.5%
5	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,990	$50,230 – $108,170	+26.7%
6	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$79,420	$51,630 – $91,640	+26.7%
7	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,760	$46,870 – $76,340	+26.1%
8	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$81,120	$60,640 – $98,690	+26.0%
9	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,230	$37,400 – $55,600	+25.6%
10	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$51,490	$26,470 – $59,210	+24.9%
11	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$79,860	$59,420 – $94,700	+24.8%
12	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,470	$36,350 – $61,690	+22.8%
13	Travel AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,470	$39,690 – $76,490	+20.6%
14	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,530	$49,620 – $63,530	+19.2%
15	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,070	$45,930 – $129,830	+18.8%
16	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,230	$55,280 – $98,140	+18.6%
17	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,350	$37,970 – $54,350	+18.5%
18	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,760	$36,830 – $60,890	+18.2%
19	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,160	$39,310 – $74,490	+17.7%
20	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,400	$69,400 – $79,100	+17.7%
21	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,740	$60,870 – $94,600	+17.3%
22	OrderliesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,510	$38,430 – $48,450	+16.2%
23	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$46,040	$35,410 – $55,370	+14.4%
24	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,490	$43,040 – $64,050	+14.2%
25	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,060	$58,670 – $114,300	+14.2%
26	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,090	$37,990 – $53,090	+14.0%
27	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$53,000 – $76,940	+13.8%
28	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,890	$47,730 – $66,400	+13.1%
29	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,800	$31,650 – $55,080	+13.0%
30	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,260	$37,550 – $56,050	+12.8%
31	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,990	$51,180 – $98,410	+12.7%
32	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,220	$40,110 – $62,380	+12.6%
33	Furniture FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,760	$38,170 – $63,680	+11.7%
34	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,070	$45,540 – $62,580	+11.4%
35	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$80,250	$52,200 – $95,740	+11.4%
36	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$83,780	$44,790 – $97,700	+11.2%
37	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$46,310	$36,260 – $78,740	+11.1%
38	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,640	$48,770 – $77,510	+11.1%
39	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,190	$47,910 – $99,860	+10.6%
40	Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,860	$49,490 – $61,450	+10.5%
41	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,630	$52,040 – $128,550	+10.5%
42	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,470	$36,680 – $45,720	+9.3%
43	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$114,260	$75,090 – $172,300	+9.2%
44	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,230	$47,290 – $130,250	+8.8%
45	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$49,860	$35,900 – $62,340	+8.0%
46	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,530	$38,560 – $51,680	+7.7%
47	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$229,740	$124,800 – $582,810	+7.4%
48	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,980	$41,420 – $108,220	+7.2%
49	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,390	$39,060 – $65,910	+6.8%
50	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,280	$45,800 – $110,130	+6.7%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Reading, PA

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