Pennsylvania Salary Percentile
Calculator
Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax — one of the lowest flat rates in the US. The economy spans healthcare, education, finance, and manufacturing, with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh as the primary economic centers.
Enter your gross annual salary (pre-tax). Hourly workers: multiply hourly rate by 2,080.
Pennsylvania salary percentiles — May 2025
| Percentile | Pennsylvania | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30K | $31K |
| 25th | $37K | $38K |
| 50th (median)median | $50K | $51K |
| 75th | $78K | $81K |
| 90th | $125K | $129K |
State figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2025 state median. National figures from BLS national percentile data.
Key insight
Pennsylvania's 3.07% flat income tax is one of the lowest in states that have income tax. The state median of $50K sits near the national median, with Philadelphia wages running 20% higher.
Pennsylvania salary — frequently asked questions
What is the median salary in Pennsylvania?
The median annual salary in Pennsylvania is approximately $50K based on May 2025 BLS data, close to the national median. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have higher wages than rural central Pennsylvania, where manufacturing and agriculture wages pull the median down.
What is a good salary in Philadelphia?
In Philadelphia, $65,000-$75,000 provides comfortable single living. Philadelphia is significantly cheaper than New York or Boston, with one-bedroom apartments running $1,400-$2,000/month in desirable neighborhoods. The surrounding suburbs offer lower costs with good access to Philadelphia employers.
How does Pennsylvania income tax work?
Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax on all earned income. This is among the lowest flat rates in any state with income tax. Many local municipalities also levy an earned income tax (typically 1-3.9%), so residents of Philadelphia or Pittsburgh pay an additional local tax on top of the state rate.
What industries pay the most in Pennsylvania?
Healthcare is the dominant high-wage sector, with Penn Medicine, UPMC, and Jefferson Health employing tens of thousands of highly paid workers. Finance (particularly in Philadelphia), technology, and pharmaceuticals (GlaxoSmithKline, Merck have significant Pennsylvania operations) round out the top-paying industries.
What is the average salary in Pennsylvania?
"Average" and "median" measure different things, but BLS reports the median: the midpoint where half of Pennsylvania workers earn more and half earn less. The Pennsylvania median is $50K, below the national median of $51K. Use the calculator above to see exactly where your salary ranks.
Salary percentiles by state
Alabama
$46K median
Alaska
$61K median
Arizona
$50K median
Arkansas
$44K median
California
$58K median
Colorado
$60K median
Connecticut
$60K median
Delaware
$52K median
Florida
$48K median
Georgia
$48K median
Hawaii
$56K median
Idaho
$48K median
Illinois
$52K median
Indiana
$48K median
Iowa
$49K median
Kansas
$48K median
Kentucky
$47K median
Louisiana
$46K median
Maine
$51K median
Maryland
$60K median
Massachusetts
$64K median
Michigan
$49K median
Minnesota
$57K median
Mississippi
$40K median
Missouri
$48K median
Montana
$49K median
Nebraska
$49K median
Nevada
$48K median
New Hampshire
$56K median
New Jersey
$59K median
New Mexico
$47K median
New York
$60K median
North Carolina
$48K median
North Dakota
$52K median
Ohio
$49K median
Oklahoma
$46K median
Oregon
$57K median
Pennsylvania
$50K median
Rhode Island
$57K median
South Carolina
$46K median
South Dakota
$47K median
Tennessee
$47K median
Texas
$49K median
Utah
$50K median
Vermont
$56K median
Virginia
$56K median
Washington
$63K median
Washington D.C.
$92K median
West Virginia
$45K median
Wisconsin
$50K median
Wyoming
$50K median