Average Salaries in State College, PA
Explore salaries across 252 occupations in State College, PA. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $61.6K, +0.1% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 252 occupations and 58,250 total jobs in State College, PA.
How the metro compares
Wages in State College, PA track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
State College, PA is a smaller metro labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Computer And Information Systems Managers. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in State College, PA
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in State College, PA
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $181.6K | 350 |
| Dentists, General | $178.0K | 30 |
| Chief Executives | $172.2K | 90 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $147.5K | 130 |
| Marketing Managers | $138.5K | 160 |
| Information Security Analysts | $137.7K | 70 |
| Pharmacists | $133.4K | 140 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $127.6K | 120 |
| Physician Assistants | $125.8K | 80 |
| Veterinarians | $124.8K | 50 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in State College, PA
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 1,780 | $27.5K |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,690 | $29.4K |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 1,600 | $42.6K |
| General And Operations Managers | 1,430 | $85.2K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 1,370 | $30.0K |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 1,300 | $29.4K |
| Cashiers | 1,280 | $28.5K |
| Registered Nurses | 1,270 | $80.6K |
| Maintenance And Repair Workers, General | 1,250 | $53.4K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 1,190 | $34.6K |
What State College, PA specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in State College, PA than in the country as a whole, which signals what this metro is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in State College, PA
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | 11.72 | $87.1K |
| Fundraisers | 7.48 | $66.8K |
| Computer Programmers | 6.91 | $81.5K |
| Instructional Coordinators | 6.88 | $64.6K |
| Civil Engineering Technologists And Technicians | 5.39 | $67.3K |
| Crossing Guards And Flaggers | 5.37 | $37.1K |
| Librarians And Media Collections Specialists | 5.33 | $64.3K |
| Statisticians | 5.27 | $70.2K |
| Correctional Officers And Jailers | 4.71 | $63.5K |
| File Clerks | 4.20 | $41.5K |
Peer markets
Comparable metros
| Metro | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $90.4K | Training And Development Managers |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $89.2K | Natural Sciences Managers |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $81.4K | Nurse Anesthetists |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $80.1K | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $78.4K | Nurse Anesthetists |
| Vallejo, CA | $77.4K | Lawyers |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77.2K | Podiatrists |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $77.1K | Neurologists |
Common salary questions for State College, PA
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other metros with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.