Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

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

Cost of living: prices in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA run 6.4% below the national average (2024), so a Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

OccupationMedian, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA · vs. national

1Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$57,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,490 – $57,490+38.2%
2Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$80,400
Bachelor's degree
$43,760 – $92,160+28.3%
3Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$80,030
Bachelor's degree
$48,320 – $96,640+24.3%
4Driver/Sales Workers$46,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,510 – $58,110+19.8%
5Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$76,590
Bachelor's degree
$48,220 – $91,670+19.7%
6Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$65,870
Associate's degree
$47,740 – $104,690+19.6%
7Couriers and Messengers$46,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,190 – $48,150+19.2%
8Marriage and Family Therapists$79,300
Master's degree
$49,140 – $102,950+18.5%
9Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$58,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $73,030+15.5%
10Rehabilitation Counselors$53,940
Master's degree
$38,240 – $84,590+15.1%
11Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$52,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,300 – $52,880+15.1%
12Dentists, General$195,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,110 – $334,250+14.3%
13Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$75,440
Bachelor's degree
$49,230 – $90,500+13.8%
14Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $74,790+13.6%
15Special Education Teachers, Middle School$75,230
Bachelor's degree
$50,770 – $89,490+12.6%
16Health Education Specialists$71,860
Bachelor's degree
$37,020 – $120,640+12.2%
17Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$51,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,350 – $60,560+11.7%
18Information and Record Clerks, All Other$54,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,760 – $62,830+11.0%
19Labor Relations Specialists$105,210
Bachelor's degree
$63,440 – $163,930+10.3%
20Electricians$69,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,210 – $118,180+10.0%
21Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$59,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $70,450+8.9%
22Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$68,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,640 – $96,900+7.6%
23Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$42,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,480 – $61,950+7.5%
24Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$42,900
No formal educational credential
$34,230 – $54,440+6.6%
25Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$78,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,650 – $97,040+5.9%
26Sheet Metal Workers$65,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,880 – $126,430+5.6%
27Sewing Machine Operators$38,630
No formal educational credential
$28,890 – $46,890+5.3%
28Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$48,860
No formal educational credential
$37,610 – $61,140+5.3%
29Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,150
Associate's degree
$53,220 – $99,850+5.1%
30Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$47,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,070 – $55,910+4.9%
31Correctional Officers and Jailers$61,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,200 – $84,930+4.9%
32Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$48,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,820 – $59,790+4.8%
33Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,610 – $63,890+4.6%
34Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,560 – $64,010+4.4%
35Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$80,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,640 – $122,580+4.3%
36Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$75,050
Bachelor's degree
$50,160 – $94,080+4.2%
37Nursing Assistants$43,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,640 – $46,420+4.1%
38Printing Press Operators$47,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,500 – $64,830+3.4%
39First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$65,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $83,760+3.4%
40Packers and Packagers, Hand$37,430
No formal educational credential
$29,610 – $56,920+3.2%
41Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$48,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,480 – $60,200+3.1%
42Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,230 – $60,800+2.7%
43Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040+2.5%
44Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$44,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,290 – $62,050+2.5%
45Construction Laborers$48,290
No formal educational credential
$37,330 – $73,170+2.5%
46Parts Salespersons$39,500
No formal educational credential
$27,710 – $58,580+2.3%
47Firefighters$60,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,370 – $85,730+1.9%
48Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,240 – $80,320+1.8%
49Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $76,460+1.7%
50Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,000
No formal educational credential
$40,070 – $79,320+1.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianScranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,490	$34,490 – $57,490	+38.2%
2	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$80,400	$43,760 – $92,160	+28.3%
3	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$80,030	$48,320 – $96,640	+24.3%
4	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,430	$20,510 – $58,110	+19.8%
5	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$76,590	$48,220 – $91,670	+19.7%
6	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$65,870	$47,740 – $104,690	+19.6%
7	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,710	$31,190 – $48,150	+19.2%
8	Marriage and Family TherapistsMaster's degree	$79,300	$49,140 – $102,950	+18.5%
9	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,570	$41,600 – $73,030	+15.5%
10	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$53,940	$38,240 – $84,590	+15.1%
11	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,880	$37,300 – $52,880	+15.1%
12	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$195,480	$59,110 – $334,250	+14.3%
13	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,440	$49,230 – $90,500	+13.8%
14	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,630	$37,860 – $74,790	+13.6%
15	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$75,230	$50,770 – $89,490	+12.6%
16	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$71,860	$37,020 – $120,640	+12.2%
17	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,220	$37,350 – $60,560	+11.7%
18	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,950	$43,760 – $62,830	+11.0%
19	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$105,210	$63,440 – $163,930	+10.3%
20	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,540	$42,210 – $118,180	+10.0%
21	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,010	$47,740 – $70,450	+8.9%
22	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,730	$47,640 – $96,900	+7.6%
23	Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,500	$35,480 – $61,950	+7.5%
24	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$42,900	$34,230 – $54,440	+6.6%
25	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,690	$47,650 – $97,040	+5.9%
26	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,250	$41,880 – $126,430	+5.6%
27	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$38,630	$28,890 – $46,890	+5.3%
28	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$48,860	$37,610 – $61,140	+5.3%
29	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,150	$53,220 – $99,850	+5.1%
30	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,930	$35,070 – $55,910	+4.9%
31	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,800	$44,200 – $84,930	+4.9%
32	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,590	$42,820 – $59,790	+4.8%
33	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,450	$34,610 – $63,890	+4.6%
34	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,840	$39,560 – $64,010	+4.4%
35	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$80,980	$49,640 – $122,580	+4.3%
36	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$75,050	$50,160 – $94,080	+4.2%
37	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,980	$37,640 – $46,420	+4.1%
38	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,340	$35,500 – $64,830	+3.4%
39	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,030	$42,160 – $83,760	+3.4%
40	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$37,430	$29,610 – $56,920	+3.2%
41	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,120	$38,480 – $60,200	+3.1%
42	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,290	$37,230 – $60,800	+2.7%
43	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	+2.5%
44	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,280	$34,290 – $62,050	+2.5%
45	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$48,290	$37,330 – $73,170	+2.5%
46	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$39,500	$27,710 – $58,580	+2.3%
47	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,410	$39,370 – $85,730	+1.9%
48	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$44,240 – $80,320	+1.8%
49	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$47,440 – $76,460	+1.7%
50	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,000	$40,070 – $79,320	+1.7%

More for Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Other metro areas in PA

By field in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Without a degree

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

More for Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Other metro areas in PA

By field in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state