Average Salaries in State College, PA
Explore salaries across 245 occupations in State College, PA. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $62.7K, -4.7% 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 2025 estimates. Coverage: 245 occupations and 54,720 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 Chief Executives. 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.
Highest-paid occupations in State College, PA
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $204K | 70 |
| Dentists, General | $168.3K | 60 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $150.5K | 70 |
| Pharmacists | $135K | 110 |
| Veterinarians | $131.5K | 60 |
| Physician Assistants | $128.5K | 80 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $128.4K | 260 |
| Human Resources Managers | $127.6K | 60 |
| Financial Managers | $125.6K | 260 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $124.5K | 110 |
Largest occupations in State College, PA
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 2,320 | $27.8K |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,710 | $29.2K |
| General And Operations Managers | 1,470 | $91.1K |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,460 | $43.9K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 1,380 | $30K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,360 | $35.9K |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 1,350 | $35.3K |
| Registered Nurses | 1,310 | $81.5K |
| Cashiers | 1,280 | $28.1K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 1,180 | $33.9K |
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.
Most concentrated occupations in State College, PA
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Life, Physical, And Social Science Technicians, All Other | 5.39 | $64.2K |
| Correctional Officers And Jailers | 4.55 | $66.7K |
| Biological Technicians | 4.22 | $62K |
| Crossing Guards And Flaggers | 4.00 | N/A |
| Broadcast Announcers And Radio Disc Jockeys | 3.98 | $45.9K |
| Library Technicians | 3.80 | N/A |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | 3.29 | $35.4K |
| Electrical, Electronic, And Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, And Finishers | 3.22 | $40.2K |
| Librarians And Media Collections Specialists | 3.04 | $77.6K |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, And Aquacultural Animals | 2.94 | $37.5K |
Comparable metros
| Metro | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92.6K | Cardiologists |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87.1K | Cardiologists |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83.8K | Radiologists |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82.7K | Radiologists |
| Boulder, CO | $82.3K | Surgeons, All Other |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82.3K | Radiologists |
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.