Government Jobs in Pennsylvania: Employers & Pay

4,836

local governments (2022)

counties

2,558

cities, towns and townships

1,698

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pennsylvania state government pay plan

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration publishes the classification and pay plan for Pennsylvania state employees: 3,273 job classes and 246 pay grades, effective July 1, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the PA plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Police Communications Operator 1 class	$46,827 – $75,298
Accountant (government)	Accountant 1–4 4 classes	$53,008 – $127,834
Administrative Assistant (government)	Administrative Assistant 1–2 2 classes	$46,827 – $86,022
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Hearing Examiner, Corrections, Administrative Law Judge, PLCB 2 classes	$69,086 – $156,167
Budget Analyst	Budget Specialist, PHIEA 1 class	No fixed rate
Child Support Officer	Child Support Enforcement Specialist 1 class	$53,008 – $86,022
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Civil Engineer Trainee, Civil Engineer (Bridges), +9 more 11 classes	$67,658 – $111,956
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Purchasing Agent, Procurement Specialist 1–5, Procurement Specialist, PHIEA 7 classes	$46,827 – $145,965
Correctional Counselor / Case Manager	Corrections Counselor 1–2 2 classes	$53,008 – $98,144
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Corrections Officer Trainee, Corrections Officer 1–5 6 classes	$46,610 – $151,577
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Scientist Trainee, Forensic Scientist 1–2 3 classes	$53,008 – $111,956
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Custodial Worker 1–2, Housekeeper 3 classes	$32,724 – $57,772
Detective / Criminal Investigator	Special Investigator Trainee, Special Agent A, OSIG, +3 more 7 classes	$46,827 – $111,956
DMV Clerk / Driver License Examiner	Driver License Examiner 1 class	$46,827 – $75,298
Eligibility Worker / Benefits Specialist	Income Maintenance Caseworker 1 class	$53,008 – $86,022
Emergency Management Specialist	Emergency Management Specialist 1 class	$60,538 – $98,144
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Engineering Technician, Transportation Technician 2 classes	$41,506 – $66,055
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer 1 class	$80,646 – $111,956
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Specialist Trainee, DMVA, Environmental Specialist 1, DMVA, +2 more 4 classes	$46,827 – $98,144
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist 1 class	$102,788 – $156,167
Fish & Game Warden	Wildlife Conservation Officer 1 class	$55,206 – $87,817
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Automotive Mechanic 1 class	$41,506 – $66,055
Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state)	Food Inspector 1, Agriculture, Food Inspector 2, Agriculture 2 classes	$53,008 – $98,144
Forester	Forester 1 class	$53,008 – $86,022
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forest Technician 1 class	$46,827 – $75,298
GIS Analyst / Specialist	Geospatial Analyst 1 class	$69,086 – $111,956
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney 1–5 3 classes	$69,086 – $178,231
Government Auditor	Auditor 1–2, Senior Internal Auditor, PSERS 3 classes	$53,008 – $127,834
Health Inspector / Environmental Health Specialist	Sanitarian, Environmental Health Specialist 2 classes	$53,008 – $98,144
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Equipment Operator A, Equipment Operator B, +3 more 5 classes	$36,831 – $66,055
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Highway Maintenance Worker 1 class	$32,724 – $51,054
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Human Resource Specialist, PHIEA 1 class	No fixed rate
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Tax Examiner 1–2, Revenue Tax Auditor Trainee, +2 more 5 classes	$41,506 – $111,956
IT Specialist (government)	Information Technology Trainee, Network Specialist 1–2, It Specialist 4 classes	$53,008 – $111,956
Judicial Law Clerk	Law Clerk 1 class	$60,538 – $98,144
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government)	Office Assistant, Lieutenant Governor's Office 1 class	$36,831 – $51,054
OSHA / Workplace Safety Inspector	Safety Inspector Trainee, Safety Inspector 2 classes	$46,827 – $86,022
Parole Officer	Parole Agent 1–2 2 classes	$53,008 – $98,144
Policy / Management Analyst	Management Analyst 1–2, Program Analyst 1–5, +5 more 12 classes	$53,008 – $145,965
Public Health Nurse	Community Health Nurse 1 class	$69,086 – $111,956
Social Worker (government)	Social Worker 1–2 2 classes	$53,008 – $98,144
Soil Conservationist / Conservation Scientist	Soil Scientist Trainee, Soil Scientist 2 classes	$53,008 – $98,144
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	State Police Cadet, State Police Trooper 2 classes	$41,506 – $130,525
Traffic Signal Technician	Traffic Control Technician 1 class	$46,827 – $75,298
Urban / City Planner	Planner 1–2 2 classes	$53,008 – $98,144
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Services Officer, DMVA 1 class	$60,538 – $98,144
Victim Advocate	Victim Assistance Coordinator, Victim Advocate 2 classes	$60,538 – $98,144
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Intern, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee, +4 more 6 classes	$46,827 – $111,956
Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist	Fisheries Biologist 1, PFBC, Wildlife Biologist 1–3, +3 more 7 classes	$53,008 – $127,834

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Classification and Pay Plan (job classes and pay schedules). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Pennsylvania

Fire departments · 177

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Philadelphia Fire Department	Philadelphia	2,085	Official site
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire	Pittsburgh	640	Official site
Erie Fire Department	Erie	150	—
Allentown Fire Department	Allentown	143	Official site
City of Scranton Bureau of Fire	Scranton	139	Official site
Reading PA Department of Fire & Rescue Services	Reading	138	Official site
City of Bethlehem Fire Department	Bethlehem	104	Official site
Harrisburg Bureau of Fire	Harrisburg	96	Official site
Lancaster City Bureau of Fire	Lancaster	89	—
Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department	Wilkes Barre	66	Official site

All 177 fire departments in Pennsylvania →

Transit agencies · 43

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority	Philadelphia	1,668	Official site
Pittsburgh Regional Transit	Pittsburgh	553	Official site
Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority	Harrisburg	147	Official site
South Central Transit Authority	Lancaster	105	Official site
Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority	Erie	81	Official site
Westmoreland County Transit Authority	Greensburg	76	Official site
Area Transportation Authority of North Central PA	Johnsonburg	70	Official site
Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority	Allentown	68	Official site
Luzerne County Transportation Authority	Wilkes Barre	66	Official site
Endless Mountains Transportation Authority	Mansfield	58	Official site

All 43 transit agencies in Pennsylvania →

School districts · 500

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia	8,000	Official site
Pittsburgh SD	Pittsburgh	1,657	Official site
Central Bucks SD	Doylestown	1,277	Official site
Reading SD	Reading	1,098	Official site
Allentown City SD	Allentown	1,053	Official site
Bethlehem Area SD	Bethlehem	991	Official site
Downingtown Area SD	Downingtown	970	Official site
North Penn SD	Lansdale	951	Official site
West Chester Area SD	Exton	950	Official site
Upper Darby SD	Upper Darby	900	Official site

All 500 school districts in Pennsylvania →

Police departments · 912

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 912 police departments in Pennsylvania →

Sheriff's offices · 42

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 42 sheriff's offices in Pennsylvania →

Campus police departments · 81

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 81 campus police departments in Pennsylvania →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Pennsylvania

Median wage in Pennsylvania for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in PA	Median in PA	National, government
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	172,010	$103,130	$137,300
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	146,520	$96,430	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	146,520	$96,430	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	146,520	$96,430	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	146,520	$96,430	$100,490
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	107,500	$44,950	$46,170
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	94,340	$44,630	$45,860
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	86,920	$36,520	$39,640
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	65,310	$46,270	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	65,310	$46,270	$48,290
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	54,290	$79,000	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	54,290	$79,000	$81,390
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	52,240	$78,800	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	52,240	$78,800	$74,220
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	48,370	$77,060	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	48,370	$77,060	$65,310
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	48,310	$34,740	$36,990
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	36,960	$70,450	$80,330
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	34,850	$39,500	$40,080
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	34,420	$93,830	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	34,420	$93,830	$96,570
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	27,250	$80,590	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	27,250	$80,590	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	27,250	$80,590	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	27,250	$80,590	$91,060
Government Attorney (agency counsel) SOC 23-1011	27,170	$157,180	$134,680
Prosecutor / Assistant District Attorney SOC 23-1011	27,170	$157,180	$134,680
Public Defender SOC 23-1011	27,170	$157,180	$134,680
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	26,510	$85,470	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	26,510	$85,470	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Pennsylvania