Jobs that pay the biggest premium in State College, PA

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

Cost of living: prices in State College, PA run 3.2% below the national average (2024), so a State College, 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 State College, PA

OccupationMedian, State College, PA · vs. national

1Massage Therapists$82,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,750 – $129,420+41.1%
2Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$92,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,510 – $100,440+24.4%
3Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,280
Bachelor's degree
$52,790 – $96,600+21.6%
4Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$76,760
Bachelor's degree
$58,200 – $98,700+20.0%
5Chemists$107,890
Bachelor's degree
$68,730 – $142,040+18.2%
6Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$123,640
Master's degree
$80,460 – $156,430+16.8%
7Production Workers, All Other$46,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,930 – $83,850+16.6%
8Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$77,560
Master's degree
$49,660 – $99,340+13.6%
9Construction Laborers$53,420
No formal educational credential
$37,990 – $71,300+13.4%
10Correctional Officers and Jailers$66,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $87,420+13.2%
11Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$55,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,540 – $70,390+12.6%
12File Clerks$48,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,780 – $71,420+10.7%
13Training and Development Specialists$75,070
Bachelor's degree
$38,000 – $104,330+8.4%
14Labor Relations Specialists$103,460
Bachelor's degree
$62,800 – $159,240+8.4%
15Biological Technicians$62,000
Bachelor's degree
$51,020 – $80,530+7.8%
16Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,040
No formal educational credential
$47,560 – $72,610+7.1%
17Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,330 – $58,590+5.7%
18Computer User Support Specialists$63,790
Some college, no degree
$39,600 – $77,050+3.1%
19Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$64,210
Associate's degree
$47,940 – $100,170+3.1%
20Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,510 – $99,470+3.0%
21Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$37,540
No formal educational credential
$26,380 – $52,960+2.4%
22Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$36,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,080 – $76,920+2.1%
23Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$73,250
Bachelor's degree
$51,050 – $100,610+1.7%
24Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$60,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,260 – $97,690+1.2%
25Veterinarians$131,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,470 – $258,320+1.1%
26First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$49,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,220 – $61,340+0.8%
27Parts Salespersons$38,880
No formal educational credential
$28,480 – $58,180+0.6%
28Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $57,220+0.3%
29Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$61,250
Bachelor's degree
$42,870 – $77,410+0.1%
30Waiters and Waitresses$35,280
No formal educational credential
$17,150 – $59,750+0.1%
31Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $78,0200.0%
32Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,770 – $58,7800.0%
33Instructional Coordinators$77,160
Master's degree
$61,530 – $106,380-0.4%
34Glaziers$56,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $91,910-0.6%
35Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37,100
No formal educational credential
$28,330 – $47,610-0.9%
36Audio and Video Technicians$57,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,720 – $101,230-1.3%
37First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,360 – $116,390-1.3%
38Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,390
No formal educational credential
$26,500 – $38,020-1.4%
39Speech-Language Pathologists$96,460
Master's degree
$61,530 – $118,670-1.4%
40Web Developers$91,300
Bachelor's degree
$72,450 – $119,340-1.5%
41Dentists, General$168,340
Doctoral or professional degree
$104,130 – $338,060-1.5%
42Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$48,940
No formal educational credential
$37,810 – $59,480-1.5%
43First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$47,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,110 – $67,280-1.6%
44Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,290 – $46,390-1.7%
45Facilities Managers$104,440
Bachelor's degree
$72,690 – $135,780-2.1%
46Opticians, Dispensing$46,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,130 – $56,770-2.3%
47Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$48,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,190 – $61,660-2.4%
48Office Clerks, General$43,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,110 – $58,160-2.4%
49Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,850
No formal educational credential
$28,680 – $45,240-2.7%
50Butchers and Meat Cutters$39,030
No formal educational credential
$28,770 – $52,800-2.8%

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

#	Occupation	MedianState College, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,490	$27,750 – $129,420	+41.1%
2	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,440	$58,510 – $100,440	+24.4%
3	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$78,280	$52,790 – $96,600	+21.6%
4	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$76,760	$58,200 – $98,700	+20.0%
5	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$107,890	$68,730 – $142,040	+18.2%
6	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$123,640	$80,460 – $156,430	+16.8%
7	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,750	$32,930 – $83,850	+16.6%
8	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$77,560	$49,660 – $99,340	+13.6%
9	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$53,420	$37,990 – $71,300	+13.4%
10	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,730	$46,840 – $87,420	+13.2%
11	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,450	$30,540 – $70,390	+12.6%
12	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,280	$35,780 – $71,420	+10.7%
13	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,070	$38,000 – $104,330	+8.4%
14	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,460	$62,800 – $159,240	+8.4%
15	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$62,000	$51,020 – $80,530	+7.8%
16	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,040	$47,560 – $72,610	+7.1%
17	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,670	$33,330 – $58,590	+5.7%
18	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$63,790	$39,600 – $77,050	+3.1%
19	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$64,210	$47,940 – $100,170	+3.1%
20	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,820	$39,510 – $99,470	+3.0%
21	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$37,540	$26,380 – $52,960	+2.4%
22	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,540	$24,080 – $76,920	+2.1%
23	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$73,250	$51,050 – $100,610	+1.7%
24	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,540	$37,260 – $97,690	+1.2%
25	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$131,500	$75,470 – $258,320	+1.1%
26	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,000	$32,220 – $61,340	+0.8%
27	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$38,880	$28,480 – $58,180	+0.6%
28	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,700	$34,920 – $57,220	+0.3%
29	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$61,250	$42,870 – $77,410	+0.1%
30	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$35,280	$17,150 – $59,750	+0.1%
31	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,990	$47,740 – $78,020	0.0%
32	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,630	$34,770 – $58,780	0.0%
33	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$77,160	$61,530 – $106,380	-0.4%
34	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,740	$37,340 – $91,910	-0.6%
35	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$37,100	$28,330 – $47,610	-0.9%
36	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,370	$45,720 – $101,230	-1.3%
37	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,880	$56,360 – $116,390	-1.3%
38	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,390	$26,500 – $38,020	-1.4%
39	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$96,460	$61,530 – $118,670	-1.4%
40	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$91,300	$72,450 – $119,340	-1.5%
41	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$168,340	$104,130 – $338,060	-1.5%
42	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$48,940	$37,810 – $59,480	-1.5%
43	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,770	$35,110 – $67,280	-1.6%
44	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,500	$30,290 – $46,390	-1.7%
45	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$104,440	$72,690 – $135,780	-2.1%
46	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,150	$35,130 – $56,770	-2.3%
47	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,420	$35,190 – $61,660	-2.4%
48	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,920	$26,110 – $58,160	-2.4%
49	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$35,850	$28,680 – $45,240	-2.7%
50	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$39,030	$28,770 – $52,800	-2.8%

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