BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

09/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2025 13:23

County Employment and Wages in Pennsylvania — First Quarter 2025

News Release Information

25-1453-PHI
Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

County Employment and Wages in Pennsylvania - First Quarter 2025

Employment increased in 14 of the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that Butler County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 2.4 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

View Chart Data
Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Pennsylvania, March 2025
County Percent change, March 2025

Butler

2.4

Dauphin

1.3

Lehigh

1.3

Philadelphia

1.3

Berks

1.1

Bucks

0.8

Lackawanna

0.8

Washington

0.8

Chester

0.6

Lancaster

0.6

Montgomery

0.6

Cumberland

0.2

Delaware

0.2

Erie

0.2

Northampton

-0.1

Allegheny

-0.2

Westmoreland

-0.2

York

-0.4

Luzerne

-0.5

Among the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania, employment was highest in Philadelphia (721,800) in March 2025. Together, the 19 largest counties accounted for 75.8 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2025

All 19 large Pennsylvania counties reported average weekly wage increases over the year. (See chart 2.) Lehigh had the largest increase (+6.5 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Pennsylvania's other large counties ranged from 4.7 percent to 0.1 percent.

View Chart Data
Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Pennsylvania, first quarter 2025
County Percent change, first quarter 2025

Lehigh

6.5

Erie

4.7

York

4.3

Luzerne

4.0

Lancaster

3.8

Northampton

3.8

Allegheny

3.2

Montgomery

3.2

Lackawanna

3.1

Philadelphia

3.1

Berks

3.0

Delaware

2.7

Cumberland

2.5

Butler

2.4

Chester

2.4

Westmoreland

2.3

Bucks

2.0

Dauphin

1.4

Washington

0.1

Weekly wages in 5 of the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania were above the national average of $1,589. Average weekly wages ranged from $2,003 in Montgomery to $1,063 in Lackawanna.

Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2025

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 48 small counties in Pennsylvania, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.)

Wage levels in 47 of the 48 smaller counties were below the national average. Montour reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,735). Perry reported the lowest average weekly wage ($819) in the state.

Among all 67 Pennsylvania counties, 17 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,000, 27 had wages from $1,000 to $1,124, 8 had wages from $1,125 to $1,249, and 15 had average weekly wages of $1,250 or higher. (See map 1. and table 2.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Pennsylvania, first quarter 2025

U.S. average = $1,589

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3.

Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release. Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

County Changes for the 2025 County Employment and Wages News Releases

Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2024 are included in this release and will be included in future 2025 releases. Four counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Pinal, AZ; Henry, GA; Wood, OH; and Comal, TX. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Gregg, TX.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania, first quarter 2025
Area Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands) 		Employment Average weekly wage (1)
March 2025
(thousands) 		Percent change,
March
2024-25 (2) 		National ranking
by percent change (3) 		First quarter
2025 ($) 		National ranking
by level (3) 		Percent change,
first quarter
2024-25 (2) 		National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,249.3 154,523.8 0.4 -- 1,589 -- 4.1 --

Pennsylvania

394.5 6,003.5 0.6 -- 1,500 16 3.5 28

Allegheny

36.8 664.2 -0.2 246 1,657 67 3.2 187

Berks

9.0 174.4 1.1 76 1,279 222 3.0 207

Bucks

21.6 274.5 0.8 105 1,286 217 2.0 290

Butler

5.5 88.2 2.4 10 1,305 207 2.4 257

Chester

16.8 251.1 0.6 141 1,891 36 2.4 257

Cumberland

7.1 136.4 0.2 189 1,298 211 2.5 251

Dauphin

7.6 188.8 1.3 56 1,386 162 1.4 317

Delaware

14.6 218.6 0.2 189 1,536 97 2.7 239

Erie

6.8 118.2 0.2 189 1,095 343 4.7 71

Lackawanna

5.6 97.9 0.8 105 1,063 351 3.1 199

Lancaster

14.8 251.0 0.6 141 1,206 276 3.8 132

Lehigh

9.1 201.0 1.3 56 1,386 162 6.5 16

Luzerne

7.6 143.7 -0.5 287 1,121 328 4.0 110

Montgomery

29.3 501.4 0.6 141 2,003 25 3.2 187

Northampton

7.2 121.1 -0.1 235 1,224 268 3.8 132

Philadelphia

33.9 721.8 1.3 56 1,702 57 3.1 199

Washington

5.8 88.1 0.8 105 1,630 74 0.1 338

Westmoreland

9.2 127.6 -0.2 246 1,121 328 2.3 268

York

9.5 181.8 -0.4 278 1,272 227 4.3 94

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications.
(3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Pennsylvania, first quarter 2025
Area Establishments Employment March 2025 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,249,320 154,523,785 1,589

Pennsylvania

394,531 6,003,516 1,500

Adams

2,255 32,877 1,085

Allegheny

36,763 664,196 1,657

Armstrong

1,459 15,376 1,002

Beaver

3,615 47,656 1,241

Bedford

1,234 16,254 955

Berks

9,003 174,407 1,279

Blair

3,466 57,812 1,055

Bradford

1,525 22,084 1,204

Bucks

21,590 274,451 1,286

Butler

5,537 88,222 1,305

Cambria

3,294 46,893 981

Cameron

158 1,413 897

Carbon

1,327 16,241 855

Centre

3,640 68,272 1,249

Chester

16,821 251,117 1,891

Clarion

1,063 12,139 928

Clearfield

2,055 29,272 1,000

Clinton

921 12,588 1,081

Columbia

1,566 24,062 983

Crawford

2,134 28,294 984

Cumberland

7,077 136,436 1,298

Dauphin

7,566 188,845 1,386

Delaware

14,609 218,627 1,536

Elk

955 13,072 1,025

Erie

6,772 118,246 1,095

Fayette

2,742 37,091 1,019

Forest

148 1,851 1,186

Franklin

3,529 61,059 1,079

Fulton

318 5,470 1,121

Greene

799 11,636 1,397

Huntingdon

1,033 12,508 991

Indiana

1,921 27,819 1,105

Jefferson

1,199 14,048 970

Juniata

581 6,205 900

Lackawanna

5,603 97,915 1,063

Lancaster

14,788 251,049 1,206

Lawrence

2,017 26,656 1,046

Lebanon

2,989 53,312 1,101

Lehigh

9,065 201,040 1,386

Luzerne

7,570 143,688 1,121

Lycoming

3,019 49,297 1,081

Mckean

1,062 13,655 980

Mercer

2,867 42,353 1,081

Mifflin

1,110 17,060 1,024

Monroe

3,720 56,358 1,091

Montgomery

29,269 501,378 2,003

Montour

493 17,240 1,735

Northampton

7,161 121,117 1,224

Northumberland

1,826 26,120 1,080

Perry

914 7,963 819

Philadelphia

33,856 721,767 1,702

Pike

1,154 11,712 897

Potter

470 4,691 1,021

Schuylkill

2,966 50,237 1,065

Snyder

1,017 15,450 882

Somerset

1,881 23,434 1,023

Sullivan

177 1,384 868

Susquehanna

975 8,559 1,049

Tioga

1,009 12,046 1,021

Union

1,020 17,243 1,141

Venango

1,208 15,904 975

Warren

913 12,907 996

Washington

5,785 88,134 1,630

Wayne

1,463 14,879 1,060

Westmoreland

9,162 127,630 1,121

Wyoming

727 9,386 1,236

York

9,473 181,755 1,272

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2025
State Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands) 		Employment Average weekly wage (1)
March 2025
(thousands) 		Percent change,
March
2024-25 		First quarter
2025 ($) 		National ranking
by level 		Percent change,
first quarter
2024-25 		National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,249.3 154,523.8 0.4 1,589 -- 4.1 --

Alabama

163.3 2,102.3 0.3 1,245 39 3.8 23

Alaska

25.3 323.5 1.3 1,452 20 5.8 4

Arizona

226.1 3,259.3 0.3 1,431 21 3.8 23

Arkansas

107.6 1,304.4 0.7 1,236 40 5.6 6

California

1,945.4 18,066.2 0.1 1,905 6 4.2 13

Colorado

242.4 2,862.7 0.1 1,681 8 4.2 13

Connecticut

148.5 1,671.7 0.5 1,980 4 3.8 23

Delaware

45.4 474.3 0.8 1,535 15 3.4 30

District of Columbia

51.5 748.9 -1.4 2,606 1 7.2 1

Florida

886.5 9,958.4 0.9 1,456 19 5.1 8

Georgia

394.8 4,860.7 0.4 1,491 17 3.4 30

Hawaii

60.3 644.8 0.6 1,363 27 6.7 2

Idaho

102.7 848.2 1.2 1,178 48 4.2 13

Illinois

407.1 5,988.9 0.2 1,662 9 3.2 38

Indiana

194.8 3,161.4 0.3 1,323 30 4.2 13

Iowa

111.3 1,537.7 -0.5 1,253 36 3.2 38

Kansas

104.3 1,428.0 0.8 1,246 38 4.0 19

Kentucky

159.6 1,986.3 0.0 1,213 44 2.4 51

Louisiana

157.0 1,921.2 0.5 1,227 42 2.8 49

Maine

66.6 629.6 0.1 1,283 34 2.7 50

Maryland

197.7 2,739.0 -0.2 1,634 10 3.2 38

Massachusetts

289.8 3,575.8 -0.7 2,107 3 4.6 11

Michigan

307.3 4,337.3 -0.3 1,391 24 2.9 48

Minnesota

211.8 2,878.6 -0.1 1,570 14 3.7 27

Mississippi

91.3 1,160.4 -0.4 1,018 51 4.1 17

Missouri

252.4 2,886.9 0.1 1,310 31 3.2 38

Montana

67.1 505.8 0.6 1,189 46 5.6 6

Nebraska

78.6 1,008.4 -0.1 1,231 41 3.1 42

Nevada

106.1 1,541.2 0.2 1,359 29 4.1 17

New Hampshire

66.3 681.0 0.1 1,606 11 4.8 9

New Jersey

338.9 4,259.0 1.1 1,815 7 3.0 44

New Mexico

66.8 868.2 0.3 1,203 45 3.9 22

New York

716.1 9,757.0 1.4 2,213 2 6.2 3

North Carolina

373.2 4,888.5 0.2 1,467 18 4.8 9

North Dakota

36.4 422.8 0.6 1,302 33 3.3 34

Ohio

344.2 5,466.8 0.2 1,361 28 3.5 28

Oklahoma

130.9 1,700.2 0.5 1,186 47 3.0 44

Oregon

186.2 1,965.7 -0.8 1,420 23 3.3 34

Pennsylvania

394.5 6,003.5 0.6 1,500 16 3.5 28

Rhode Island

49.0 489.3 1.0 1,429 22 3.0 44

South Carolina

198.7 2,304.9 1.7 1,247 37 4.4 12

South Dakota

40.5 450.5 0.2 1,163 49 3.0 44

Tennessee

221.0 3,251.5 -0.4 1,364 26 4.0 19

Texas

847.6 14,015.9 1.2 1,587 13 3.1 42

Utah

138.1 1,720.5 1.1 1,365 25 4.0 19

Vermont

33.5 306.8 -0.4 1,280 35 3.8 23

Virginia

321.9 4,108.8 0.8 1,605 12 3.4 30

Washington

240.9 3,583.7 0.9 1,935 5 5.8 4

West Virginia

61.9 694.6 0.0 1,149 50 3.3 34

Wisconsin

208.9 2,898.4 -0.2 1,305 32 3.4 30

Wyoming

31.0 274.6 0.0 1,216 43 3.3 34

Puerto Rico

52.0 946.1 -0.7 699 (3) 3.2 (3)

Virgin Islands

2.9 33.8 -7.5 1,034 (3) 2.7 (3)

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(3) Data not included in the national ranking.

Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published this content on September 16, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 16, 2025 at 19:24 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]