Data Entry Specialist salary in Pittsburgh, PA
For this job Pittsburgh sits right at the Pennsylvania figure, with a median of $38,710 a year1. That is about level with the Pennsylvania statewide median of $38,810, and 6.4% below the US median of $41,340. Among US areas it comes in at #216 of 394. About 930 data entry specialists work here, 18% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-9021, area Pittsburgh, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Pittsburgh against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,610 | $38,710 | $54,650 | |
| Pennsylvania | $29,740 | $38,810 | $51,710 | |
| United States | $31,200 | $41,340 | $58,790 |
Data entry specialists at the 90th percentile earn $54,650, 1.8 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.9. The middle half of data entry specialists in Pittsburgh earns $33,870–$46,060. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $12,190 wide, between the figure for Pennsylvania ($10,890) and the US figure ($12,650).
What to budget for a data entry specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,610 | $2,551 | $14.72 | $39,497 |
| 25th percentile | $33,870 | $2,822 | $16.28 | $43,703 |
| Median | $38,710 | $3,226 | $18.61 | $49,948 |
| 75th percentile | $46,060 | $3,838 | $22.14 | $59,432 |
| 90th percentile | $54,650 | $4,554 | $26.27 | $70,516 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $7,350 over the median, the 25th only $4,840 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $9,484 a year in employer cost. 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 $41,340 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Pittsburgh, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $38,810 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Pittsburgh
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $11,238 to the $38,710 median and brings it to $49,948 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for data entry specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Pittsburgh
Of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh, this one ranks #16 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($42,790) and virtual receptionists ($36,300). Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,320.
| Role | Median | vs data entry specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +17.7% | 12,160 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +14.3% | 6,020 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +10.5% | 17,280 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | this role | 930 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -6.2% | 6,100 |
Measured against the US median, data entry specialists rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh (-6.4%), between virtual receptionists (-4.5%) and bookkeepers (-6.7%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Data entry specialists hold 0.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Pittsburgh, 0.9% across Pennsylvania and 0.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 17 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $35,090 in Lebanon to $41,740 in York-Hanover, a gap of $6,650 a year. The one area in Pennsylvania with more data entry specialists, Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($41,280), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | +7.5% | 30 | |
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +6.6% | 2,340 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | +0.4% | 210 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 930 | |
| Reading, PA | -0.1% | 120 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -0.1% | 140 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -0.1% | 60 |
Pittsburgh against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Pittsburgh is #22 of 389 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Pennsylvania, Green Bay and Kankakee pay just above Pittsburgh and Youngstown-Warren and Winston-Salem just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Pittsburgh. Of the three markets with about as many data entry specialists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | +19.7% | 920 | jobs | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | +5.5% | 950 | jobs | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +0.5% | 920 | jobs | |
| Kankakee, IL | +0.2% | 70 | pay | |
| Green Bay, WI | +0.1% | 160 | pay | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 930 | ||
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -0.1% | 110 | pay | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | -0.2% | 190 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a data entry specialist in Pittsburgh, PA?
About $49,948 a year at the median, or $4,162 a month: $38,710 in pay plus about $11,238 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for data entry specialists in Pittsburgh?
The median was $38,710 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,610, the 90th $54,650, and the middle half earned $33,870 to $46,060.
Is Pittsburgh cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for data entry specialists?
About the same: a median of $38,710 against $38,810 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Allentown-Bethlehem at $38,880, the next down Reading at $38,680.
How many data entry specialists work in Pittsburgh?
BLS counts about 930 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the Pennsylvania total of 5,270. Only Philadelphia-Camden has more in Pennsylvania.
Does a data entry specialist cost more than a virtual receptionist in Pittsburgh?
Yes: $2,410 a year more at the median. The medians are $38,710 and $36,300.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-9021: 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.