Looking for a raise? Here's the highest, and lowest, paid industries in your PA county
Workers in Pennsylvania's natural resources and mining, information and finance industries were among some of the highest paid employees in the state during the first three months of 2023, most making $42 to $172 an hour, data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show.
The Bureau's most recent Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data show the average employee working in Pennsylvania's private sector industries made about $35.23 an hour, assuming a 40-hour work week, across myriad industries.
Washington County information industry workers, which includes publishing, telecommunications and broadcasting, averaged $172 an hour, the highest rate of any industry in any county.
While a handful of industries accounted for the highest paying jobs in the state, leisure and hospitality workers ranked the lowest average wage in almost every one of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.
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Hospitality workers in most counties were paid between $2 to $5 more an hour than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, which has been Pennsylvania's minimum wage since 2009 despite repeated efforts to raise it over the past decade.
Here's a breakdown of the highest and lowest average wages by industry and county, including that county's overall average wage, around this time last year.
1. Washington County
Top hourly wage: $172.28 per hour in information industry.Lowest hourly wage: $12.62 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $53.48 per hour
2. Mercer County
Top hourly wage: $105.62 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.25 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $32.76 per hour
3. Montgomery County
Top hourly wage: $99.68 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $13.40 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $46.94 per hour
4. Chester County
Top hourly wage: $94.90 per hour in information industry.Lowest hourly wage: $12.90 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $44.69 per hour
5. Philadelphia County
Top hourly wage: $94.62 per hour in information industry.Lowest hourly wage: $19.25 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $43.60 per hour
6. Delaware County
Top hourly wage: $85.68 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $12.95 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $42.49 per hour
7. Allegheny County
Top hourly wage: $81.15 per hour in information industry.Lowest hourly wage: $16.02 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $43.01 per hour
8. Berks County
Top hourly wage: $62.85 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.58 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $30.84 per hour
9. Greene County
Top hourly wage: $58.90 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.32 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $29.01 per hour
10. Dauphin County
Top hourly wage: $58.52 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $14.20 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $35.35 per hour
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11. Wyoming County
Top hourly wage: $58.25 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.48 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $28.76 per hour
12. Northumberland County
Top hourly wage: $57.15 per hour in professional and business services industry.Lowest hourly wage: $11.45 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $25.89 per hour
13. Bucks County
Top hourly wage: $52.95 per hour in information industry.Lowest hourly wage: $12.42 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $32.91 per hour
14. Butler County
Top hourly wage: $52.60 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.70 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $33.27 per hour
15. Monroe County
Top hourly wage: $51.62 per hour in manufacturing industry.Lowest hourly wage: $13.98 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $26.33 per hour
16. Armstrong County
Top hourly wage: $50.85 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $7.18 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $27.38 per hour
17. Montour County
Top hourly wage: $49.75 per hour in education and health services industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.18 per hour in information industry.Average wage overall: $30.05 per hour
18. Cumberland County
Top hourly wage: $49.60 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $11.55 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $30.48 per hour
19. Erie County
Top hourly wage: $49.55 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.80 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $25.38 per hour
20. Westmoreland County
Top hourly wage: $48.58 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.25 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $29.81 per hour
21. Lehigh County
Top hourly wage: $48.58 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $12.48 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $33.18 per hour
22. Lycoming County
Top hourly wage: $48.55 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.68 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $26.92 per hour
23. Lancaster County
Top hourly wage: $48.22 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $11.42 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $29.04 per hour
24. Northampton County
Top hourly wage: $47.32 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $13.92 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $30.32 per hour
25. Fayette County
Top hourly wage: $46.40 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $11.82 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $25.95 per hour
26. Centre County
Top hourly wage: $45.40 per hour in information industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.35 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $28.57 per hour
27. Beaver County
Top hourly wage: $45.15 per hour in manufacturing industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.20 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $29.22 per hour
28. Lackawanna County
Top hourly wage: $45.12 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.15 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $25.71 per hour
29. Indiana County
Top hourly wage: $44.78 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.82 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $27.02 per hour
30. Bradford County
Top hourly wage: $43.80 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.80 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $26.81 per hour
31. Susquehanna County
Top hourly wage: $43.50 per hour in professional and business services industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.48 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $27.19 per hour
32. Tioga County
Top hourly wage: $42.90 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.75 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $26.72 per hour
33. Jefferson County
Top hourly wage: $42.00 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $7.05 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $22.94 per hour
34. York County
Top hourly wage: $41.45 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.18 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $28.73 per hour
35. Wayne County
Top hourly wage: $40.90 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $13.25 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.72 per hour
36. Clinton County
Top hourly wage: $40.75 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.70 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.26 per hour
37. Warren County
Top hourly wage: $40.35 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.02 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $23.02 per hour
38. Luzerne County
Top hourly wage: $40.12 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $11.18 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $27.54 per hour
39. Juniata County
Top hourly wage: $39.50 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.32 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $21.54 per hour
40. Pike County
Top hourly wage: $38.90 per hour in information industry.Lowest hourly wage: $14.08 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $22.77 per hour
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41. Mckean County
Top hourly wage: $38.52 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.05 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $23.01 per hour
42. Somerset County
Top hourly wage: $38.42 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.22 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $25.04 per hour
43. Bedford County
Top hourly wage: $36.62 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.20 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $23.01 per hour
44. Franklin County
Top hourly wage: $36.60 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.43 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.51 per hour
45. Lawrence County
Top hourly wage: $36.22 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.60 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $26.60 per hour
46. Clearfield County
Top hourly wage: $34.72 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.12 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.26 per hour
47. Blair County
Top hourly wage: $34.62 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.75 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.55 per hour
48. Elk County
Top hourly wage: $34.50 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $7.00 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $22.00 per hour
49. Carbon County
Top hourly wage: $34.22 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.55 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.05 per hour
50. Union County
Top hourly wage: $34.20 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.98 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.31 per hour
51. Adams County
Top hourly wage: $34.10 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.38 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.50 per hour
52. Cameron County
Top hourly wage: $33.80 per hour in manufacturing industry.Lowest hourly wage: $5.03 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $17.86 per hour
53. Schuylkill County
Top hourly wage: $32.83 per hour in manufacturing industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.20 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.52 per hour
54. Cambria County
Top hourly wage: $32.25 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.05 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $22.93 per hour
55. Lebanon County
Top hourly wage: $31.50 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $10.07 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $24.14 per hour
56. Mifflin County
Top hourly wage: $30.75 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.28 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $22.43 per hour
57. Huntingdon County
Top hourly wage: $30.65 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.65 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $20.46 per hour
58. Potter County
Top hourly wage: $30.20 per hour in professional and business services industry.Lowest hourly wage: $6.88 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $23.36 per hour
59. Snyder County
Top hourly wage: $30.12 per hour in professional and business services industry.Lowest hourly wage: $9.32 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $21.36 per hour
60. Columbia County
Top hourly wage: $29.82 per hour in professional and business services industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.88 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $22.60 per hour
61. Fulton County
Top hourly wage: $29.68 per hour in manufacturing industry.Lowest hourly wage: $7.45 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $21.70 per hour
62. Venango County
Top hourly wage: $29.42 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $7.55 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $21.11 per hour
63. Forest County
Top hourly wage: $29.15 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $7.58 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $15.82 per hour
64. Crawford County
Top hourly wage: $28.58 per hour in financial activities industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.82 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $22.13 per hour
65. Clarion County
Top hourly wage: $26.10 per hour in natural resources and mining industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.30 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $20.97 per hour
66. Perry County
Top hourly wage: $25.38 per hour in construction industry.Lowest hourly wage: $7.72 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $18.90 per hour
67. Sullivan County
Top hourly wage: $23.42 per hour in construction industry.Lowest hourly wage: $8.85 per hour in leisure and hospitality industry.Average wage overall: $16.42 per hour
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Labor stats show highest paid industries in Pennsylvania counties