Is Pennsylvania a good state for your salary to go far?

Pennsylvania ranks #36 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 97.2 across 371 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 97.6 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 97.6, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Pennsylvania

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania ranks #36 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 97.2, base = 100). Cost of living 97.6 (US = 100); top income tax 3.07%.

Does a salary go further in Pennsylvania? (cost of living + state tax)

In Pennsylvania, the cost of living is 97.6 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 97.2 across 371 occupations, ranking it #36 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Pennsylvania ranks #36 of 51 states. Mean across 371 occupations; 100 = the average state, 97.2 means pay goes -2.8% less far after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

97.2

Real pay by occupation in Pennsylvania (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Firefighters	$73,460	$72,977	127.8
Health Education Specialists	$80,670	$80,139	122.1
Family Medicine Physicians	$306,030	$304,016	119.0
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers	$94,600	$93,978	118.6
Structural Iron and Steel Workers	$82,970	$82,424	118.3
Lawyers	$157,180	$156,146	117.8
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers	$101,050	$100,385	116.1
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$85,470	$84,908	115.7
Insurance Sales Agents	$73,370	$72,887	115.2
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	$44,870	$44,575	114.8
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$77,930	$77,417	113.9
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	$81,020	$80,487	113.8
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$77,060	$76,553	113.4
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$78,800	$78,282	112.2
Special Education Teachers, Middle School	$77,040	$76,533	112.2
Biological Scientists, All Other	$100,780	$100,117	112.2
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs	$59,070	$58,681	110.3
Tree Trimmers and Pruners	$58,200	$57,817	110.1
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	$60,650	$60,251	110.1
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	$77,000	$76,493	109.9
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers	$61,160	$60,758	109.3
Library Technicians	$46,100	$45,797	109.0
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	$75,270	$74,775	108.7
Compliance Officers	$85,580	$85,017	108.5
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$97,580	$96,938	108.5
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	$106,230	$105,531	108.1
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary	$118,710	$117,929	107.9
Producers and Directors	$75,460	$74,963	107.5
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	$72,680	$72,202	107.4
Veterinarians	$133,520	$132,641	107.2
Brickmasons and Blockmasons	$69,560	$69,102	107.2
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School	$75,760	$75,262	107.0
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$101,760	$101,090	107.0
Personal Financial Advisors	$105,200	$104,508	106.9
Labor Relations Specialists	$91,320	$90,719	106.8
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	$80,670	$80,139	106.6
Correctional Officers and Jailers	$63,460	$63,042	106.5
Nursing Assistants	$44,590	$44,297	105.9
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers	$61,610	$61,205	105.8
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	$63,310	$62,893	105.2

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 371 BLS publishes for Pennsylvania. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (97.6, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Pennsylvania, a $85,000 salary is worth about $84,441 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $2,610 (flat 3.07%) · take-home $82,391 · BEA cost of living 97.6 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $11,511 gain over Pennsylvania.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Pennsylvania real pay — FAQ

Is Pennsylvania a good state for your salary to go far?: Pennsylvania ranks #36 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 97.2 across 371 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 97.6 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 97.6, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Pennsylvania is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.