Careers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s regional price level is below the national average (index 97.572, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).
Unemployment rate: 3.8% · Labor force participation: 63% · 6,448,040 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).
Highest-Paying Careers
See full list →- 1Cardiologists$579,120
- 2Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons$553,740
- 3Anesthesiologists$461,390
- 4Radiologists$455,380
- 5Physicians, Pathologists$413,370
Largest Occupations
See full list →- 1Home Health and Personal Care Aides257,370 employed
- 2General and Operations Managers172,010 employed
- 3Registered Nurses146,520 employed
- 4Fast Food and Counter Workers142,220 employed
- 5Retail Salespersons141,790 employed
Highest Concentration
See full list →- 1Shampooers3.19× national avg
- 2Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic3.12× national avg
- 3Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic2.85× national avg
- 4Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians2.84× national avg
- 5Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders2.81× national avg
Best Purchasing Power
See full list →cost-of-living adjusted
- 1Cardiologists$593,531
- 2Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons$567,519
- 3Anesthesiologists$472,871
- 4Radiologists$466,712
- 5Physicians, Pathologists$423,656
Strongest Opportunity Score
See full list →Sources
Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.