Marketing Specialist salary in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
For this job Harrisburg-Carlisle sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $71,500 a year1. That is 4.0% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $68,760, and 9.2% below the US median of $78,760. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#108 of 516). About 1,560 marketing specialists work here, 5% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 13-1161, area Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Harrisburg-Carlisle against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $44,350 | $71,500 | $116,270 | |
| Pennsylvania | $34,160 | $68,760 | $128,810 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in Harrisburg-Carlisle earns $56,410–$92,360. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $116,270, only 2.6 times the bottom tenth, against 3.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $35,950 wide, against $46,880 across Pennsylvania and $49,960 nationally: employers in Harrisburg-Carlisle pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,350 | $3,696 | $21.32 | $57,226 |
| 25th percentile | $56,410 | $4,701 | $27.12 | $72,787 |
| Median | $71,500 | $5,958 | $34.38 | $92,258 |
| 75th percentile | $92,360 | $7,697 | $44.40 | $119,174 |
| 90th percentile | $116,270 | $9,689 | $55.90 | $150,026 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,090 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $20,860, or about $26,916 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 $78,760 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Harrisburg-Carlisle, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $68,760 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Harrisburg-Carlisle
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 $20,758 to the $71,500 median and brings it to $92,258 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 marketing 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle
Of the 17 roles we track in Harrisburg-Carlisle, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($76,510) and executive assistants ($70,450). Project Coordinator is the highest at $97,850.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +36.9% | 1,910 | |
| Accountant | +7.0% | 3,210 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 1,560 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.5% | 700 | |
| Recruiter | -1.9% | 2,640 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the lowest paid of the 17 roles we track in Harrisburg-Carlisle (-9.2%); administrative assistants come first (-0.2%). The typical role here is at -4.4%, so, measured against the US, marketing specialists cost less in Harrisburg-Carlisle than the area's general pay level would suggest. Marketing specialists hold 4.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Harrisburg-Carlisle, 5.4% across Pennsylvania and 5.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $50,770 in Johnstown to $79,420 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $28,650 a year. Of the 2 areas in Pennsylvania with more marketing specialists than Harrisburg-Carlisle, 1 pays less: Pittsburgh, PA ($63,190).
| Area | Median | vs Harrisburg-Carlisle | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +11.1% | 17,600 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | this area | 1,560 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -5.3% | 1,400 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | -7.8% | 180 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -9.1% | 570 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -9.4% | 990 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -11.6% | 4,940 |
Harrisburg-Carlisle against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Harrisburg-Carlisle is #72 of 514 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Pennsylvania, Davenport-Moline and Modesto pay just above Harrisburg-Carlisle and Midland and Cleveland just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Harrisburg-Carlisle. Of the three markets with about as many marketing specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Harrisburg-Carlisle | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +12.0% | 1,570 | jobs | |
| Modesto, CA | +0.1% | 580 | pay | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | +0.1% | 1,080 | pay | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | this area | 1,560 | ||
| Midland, MI | -0.0% | 200 | pay | |
| Cleveland, OH | -0.2% | 5,440 | pay | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | -8.3% | 1,580 | jobs | |
| Tucson, AZ | -16.7% | 1,550 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
About $92,258 a year at the median, or $7,688 a month: $71,500 in pay plus about $20,758 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for marketing specialists in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $71,500 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $44,350, the 90th $116,270, and the middle half earned $56,410 to $92,360.
Is Harrisburg-Carlisle cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for marketing specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $71,500 against $68,760 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia-Camden at $79,420, the next down Allentown-Bethlehem at $67,740.
How many marketing specialists work in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
BLS counts about 1,560 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Pennsylvania total of 31,040. Only Philadelphia-Camden and Pittsburgh have more in Pennsylvania.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than an executive assistant in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
Yes: $1,050 a year more at the median. The medians are $71,500 and $70,450.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: 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.