Cost of hiring in Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in Allentown-Bethlehem, with about 5,140 people1. Medians run from $37,540 a year for virtual receptionists to $100,050 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Allentown-Bethlehem
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +3.3% | 130 | |
| HR Assistant | +2.5% | 220 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +0.5% | 1,960 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -0.8% | 260 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -1.0% | 4,130 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -1.2% | 2,610 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -1.4% | 5,140 | |
| Project Coordinator | -2.2% | 1,850 | |
| Paralegal | -3.0% | 430 | |
| Bookkeeper | -3.1% | 2,430 | |
| Office Manager | -5.4% | 3,230 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.0% | 210 | |
| Accountant | -6.3% | 2,500 | |
| Recruiter | -7.8% | 1,720 | |
| Executive Assistant | -10.8% | 590 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -14.0% | 1,400 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -15.1% | 3,430 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $44,160 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $56,981 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Allentown-Bethlehem against the US
Allentown-Bethlehem pays above the US median for 2 of the 17 roles, most of all for e-commerce order specialists (+3.3%) and HR assistants (+2.5%), and below it for 12, furthest for sales development representatives (-15.1%). For medical administrative assistants, payroll specialists and administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is -3.0%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for HR assistants, #77 of 384 areas by median pay; its lowest is for data entry specialists, #210 of 394.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Allentown-Bethlehem has more virtual receptionists (8.1% of these jobs here, against 5.7% nationally) and sales development representatives (10.6% against 7.9%), and fewer paralegals (1.3% against 2.5%) and executive assistants (1.8% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Oshkosh-Neenah, WI is nearest, at -3.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | -2.9% | 17 | 324,600 |
| Charlottesville, VA | -2.9% | 17 | 10,660 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -3.0% (this area) | 17 | 32,240 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -3.1% | 16 | 9,050 |
| Springfield, IL | -3.1% | 16 | 11,900 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | -3.1% | 17 | 105,820 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in Allentown-Bethlehem span $37,900–$124,030, the widest band (3.3×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,750–$56,610. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 17 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists and accountants: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($68,960 against a $59,410 median for sales development representatives).
Allentown-Bethlehem against Pennsylvania
Against Pennsylvania as a whole, Allentown-Bethlehem pays more for 7 of 17 roles, led by HR assistants (+6.3%) and payroll specialists (+3.8%), and less for 5, most of all executive assistants (-9.3%). It has the highest median in Pennsylvania for HR assistants.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
By jobs in these roles, Allentown-Bethlehem is #4 of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Philadelphia-Camden to the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | 289,250 | 17 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 105,450 | 17 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 32,820 | 17 |
| Lancaster, PA | 21,700 | 17 |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | 20,060 | 17 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 14,930 | 17 |
| Reading, PA | 14,430 | 17 |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 13,520 | 17 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,870 | 17 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,340 | 17 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Allentown-Bethlehem?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $100,050 a year, about $129,097 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $37,540.
Is hiring in Allentown-Bethlehem cheaper than the US median?
For 12 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all sales development representatives (-15.1%). 2 pay more than the US median, led by e-commerce order specialists (+3.3%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.