Cost of hiring in Reading, PA
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in Reading, with about 2,630 people1. Medians run from $36,390 a year for virtual receptionists to $98,040 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Reading
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +8.0% | 80 | |
| HR Assistant | +1.6% | 80 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -0.6% | 2,630 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -1.6% | 690 | |
| Bookkeeper | -3.8% | 1,260 | |
| Project Coordinator | -4.2% | 780 | |
| Office Manager | -4.2% | 1,660 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -4.3% | 1,160 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -4.3% | 1,700 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.4% | 120 | |
| Paralegal | -6.9% | 200 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -7.9% | 150 | |
| Recruiter | -8.6% | 940 | |
| Accountant | -9.7% | 1,230 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -13.0% | 940 | |
| Executive Assistant | -13.3% | 290 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -20.0% | 520 |
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 $44,500 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $57,419 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Reading against the US
Reading pays above the US median for 2 of the 17 roles, most of all for e-commerce order specialists (+8.0%) and HR assistants (+1.6%), and below it for 14, furthest for marketing specialists (-20.0%). For customer support specialists it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is -4.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for e-commerce order specialists, #25 of 287 areas by median pay; its lowest is for accountants, #310 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Reading has more virtual receptionists (8.0% of these jobs here, against 5.7% nationally) and office managers (11.5% against 9.1%), and fewer paralegals (1.4% against 2.5%) and marketing specialists (3.6% against 5.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Jacksonville, FL is nearest, at -4.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | -4.2% | 14 | 3,850 |
| Pueblo, CO | -4.2% | 16 | 5,280 |
| Reading, PA | -4.3% (this area) | 17 | 14,430 |
| Jacksonville, FL | -4.3% | 17 | 85,630 |
| Green Bay, WI | -4.5% | 17 | 16,460 |
| Iowa City, IA | -4.5% | 16 | 8,030 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Reading span $36,540–$127,610, the widest band (3.5×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,960–$51,990. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 12 of 17 roles, recruiters most ($47,180–$128,720 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, data entry specialists and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($72,630 against a $60,880 median for sales development representatives).
Reading against Pennsylvania
Against Pennsylvania as a whole, Reading pays more for 3 of 17 roles, led by e-commerce order specialists (+6.4%) and HR assistants (+5.3%), and less for 10, most of all executive assistants (-11.7%). It has the highest median in Pennsylvania for e-commerce order specialists.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
By jobs in these roles, Reading is #8 of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Harrisburg-Carlisle to the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 32,820 | 17 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | 32,240 | 17 |
| Lancaster, PA | 21,700 | 17 |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | 20,060 | 17 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 14,930 | 17 |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 13,520 | 17 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,870 | 17 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,340 | 17 |
| Erie, PA | 9,750 | 17 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 9,700 | 17 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Reading?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $98,040 a year, about $126,503 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $36,390.
Is hiring in Reading cheaper than the US median?
For 14 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-20.0%). 2 pay more than the US median, led by e-commerce order specialists (+8.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.