These Are The 10 Best Places Places In Pennsylvania To Get A Job

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If you’re embarking on a job search in Pennsylvania, you’re in the right place to discover the best opportunities.

While Harrisburg might come to mind as a prime location for job seekers, data reveals that it’s not the top city for employment in the state.

At Zippia, we utilize comprehensive data and analysis to explore such questions. Our objective was to identify the best places in Pennsylvania to find a job in 2026 and beyond.

After meticulously analyzing over 23 cities in Pennsylvania, we compiled a definitive list of the best job markets in the Keystone State:

Listen up, Hazleton—there are valuable insights to glean from the other cities on this list.

How We Determined the Best Places for Jobs in Pennsylvania

We conducted extensive research on various locations across Pennsylvania. To ensure a fair comparison, we established a minimum population threshold of 5,000 residents.

This led us to analyze 23 cities in Pennsylvania.

Each city was ranked from one to 23 across several criteria, with one being the best performer.

The average rank across all criteria determined which city earned the title of ‘Best Place for Jobs in Pennsylvania.’

The criteria we evaluated included:

Unemployment rate
Recent job growth
Future job growth
Median household income

Our data sources include the BLS and Sperling’s Best Places.

If your city doesn’t make the top 10, scroll down to the end of this article for a detailed chart and a downloadable file of all the data.

Now, let’s explore how these cities have climbed the career ladder.

1. Phoenixville

Population: 16,430Unemployment Rate: 3.80%
Recent Job Growth: 1.44%
Future Job Growth: 39.10%

2. Plum

Population: 27,147Unemployment Rate: 4.30%
Recent Job Growth: 1.44%
Future Job Growth: 38.60%

3. Carlisle

Population: 18,727Unemployment Rate: 3.90%
Recent Job Growth: 2.34%
Future Job Growth: 40.80%

4. Lansdale

Population: 16,278Unemployment Rate: 4.30%
Recent Job Growth: 1.44%
Future Job Growth: 38.60%

5. Baldwin

Population: 19,723Unemployment Rate: 4.50%
Recent Job Growth: 1.44%
Future Job Growth: 38.40%

6. Harrisburg

Population: 49,401Unemployment Rate: 6.50%
Recent Job Growth: 2.34%
Future Job Growth: 38.20%

7. Lancaster

Population: 59,205Unemployment Rate: 5.90%
Recent Job Growth: 1.72%
Future Job Growth: 37.50%

8. Erie

Population: 101,454Unemployment Rate: 6.00%
Recent Job Growth: 1.86%
Future Job Growth: 37.70%

9. Pittsburgh

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 306,430Unemployment Rate: 4.80%
Recent Job Growth: 1.44%
Future Job Growth: 38.10%

10. McKeesport

Population: 19,877 Unemployment Rate: 6.20%
Recent Job Growth: 1.45%
Future Job Growth: 36.70%

Detailed List of the Best Places in Pennsylvania for Jobs

City	Rank	Population	Unemployment Rate	Recent Job Growth	Future Job Growth
Phoenixville	1	16,430	3.80%	1.44%	39.10%
Plum	2	27,147	4.30%	1.44%	38.60%
Carlisle	3	18,727	3.90%	2.34%	40.80%
Lansdale	4	16,278	4.30%	1.44%	38.60%
Baldwin	5	19,723	4.50%	1.44%	38.40%
Harrisburg	6	49,401	6.50%	2.34%	38.20%
Lancaster	7	59,205	5.90%	1.72%	37.50%
Erie	8	101,454	6.00%	1.86%	37.70%
Pittsburgh	9	306,430	4.80%	1.44%	38.10%
McKeesport	10	19,877	6.20%	1.45%	36.70%
Lebanon	11	25,495	7.20%	2.58%	38.00%
Altoona	12	46,434	5.30%	0.62%	35.90%
Bethlehem	13	75,016	6.30%	0.69%	35.10%
Hermitage	14	16,252	5.20%	0.74%	36.30%
Chambersburg	15	20,217	4.50%	0.09%	35.70%
Johnstown	16	20,976	6.90%	1.01%	35.10%
Philadelphia	17	1,525,811	6.80%	1.44%	36.10%
Easton	18	26,885	6.40%	0.69%	35.00%
Allentown	19	117,942	7.30%	0.69%	34.10%
Chester	20	34,127	8.90%	1.44%	34.00%
Reading	21	87,926	7.80%	0.70%	33.60%
Scranton	22	76,021	6.70%	-0.05%	33.20%
Hazleton	23	25,166	10.80%	-0.05%	29.10%

In conclusion, Pennsylvania offers a diverse range of job opportunities across various cities. Whether you’re in a major urban center or a smaller community, understanding the local job market can significantly enhance your chances of finding the right position. Explore these top-ranked cities and see how they align with your career aspirations.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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