Customer Support Specialist salary in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
Hiring a customer support specialist costs less in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area than in Pennsylvania or the country as a whole. The median is $42,030 a year1: 5.8% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $44,630 and 6.1% below the US median of $44,770. Nationally it ranks #231 of 520 areas. BLS counts about 2,160 people in this job here, 2% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | $28,390 | $42,030 | $59,380 | |
| Pennsylvania | $31,430 | $44,630 | $63,370 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
Customer support specialists at the 90th percentile earn $59,380, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of customer support specialists in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area earns $35,480–$47,500. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $12,020 wide, against $14,990 across Pennsylvania and $14,910 nationally: employers in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,390 | $2,366 | $13.65 | $36,632 |
| 25th percentile | $35,480 | $2,957 | $17.06 | $45,781 |
| Median | $42,030 | $3,502 | $20.21 | $54,232 |
| 75th percentile | $47,500 | $3,958 | $22.84 | $61,290 |
| 90th percentile | $59,380 | $4,948 | $28.55 | $76,619 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,550 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,470, or about $7,058 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $44,770 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $44,630 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
At the $42,030 median, a local hire costs about $54,232 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,202 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
A local hire here costs about 4.1 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 5.0 times the remote figure of $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($43,370) and e-commerce order specialists ($39,840). Project Coordinator is the highest at $87,860.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +3.4% | 2,200 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +3.2% | 880 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 2,160 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -5.2% | 150 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -10.1% | 90 |
Measured against the US median, customer support specialists rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area (-6.1%), between medical administrative assistants (-5.6%) and HR assistants (-6.2%). The typical role here is at -12.0%, so, measured against the US, customer support specialists cost more in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Customer support specialists hold 16.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, 16.5% across Pennsylvania and 16.4% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $36,230 in Williamsport to $47,070 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $10,840 a year. Of the 8 areas in Pennsylvania with more customer support specialists than the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, 1 pays less: Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA ($42,010).
| Area | Median | vs the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +1.4% | 5,040 | |
| State College, PA | +1.3% | 940 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | +0.9% | 2,330 | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,160 | |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | -0.0% | 3,610 | |
| Erie, PA | -0.7% | 1,610 | |
| Lebanon, PA | -1.9% | 580 |
the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #167 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Traverse City and Dover pay just above the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area and Raleigh-Cary and Michigan City-La Porte just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many customer support specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | +13.7% | 2,140 | jobs | |
| Dover, DE | +0.2% | 1,000 | pay | |
| Traverse City, MI | +0.0% | 960 | pay | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,160 | ||
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | -0.3% | 13,620 | pay | |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | -0.4% | 420 | pay | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | -11.2% | 2,150 | jobs | |
| Lafayette, LA | -12.4% | 2,140 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro)?
About $54,232 a year at the median, or $4,519 a month: $42,030 in pay plus about $12,202 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for customer support specialists in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
The median was $42,030 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,390, the 90th $59,380, and the middle half earned $35,480 to $47,500.
Is the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for customer support specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $42,030 against $44,630 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is York-Hanover at $42,420, the next down Scranton-Wilkes-Barre at $42,010.
How many customer support specialists work in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 2,160 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Pennsylvania total of 94,340. 8 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is York-Hanover, with about 2,330.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,190 a year more at the median. The medians are $42,030 and $39,840.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $54,232 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.