Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Harrisburg
Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Harrisburg
Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.
As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.
#37. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $24,140
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)
#36. Physical therapist aides
- Annual mean salary: $30,330
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
#35. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $30,790
- #316 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
#34. Medical assistants
- Annual mean salary: $32,980
- #207 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
#33. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $33,660
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,670
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
#32. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $34,640
- #153 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
#31. Medical transcriptionists
- Annual mean salary: $36,020
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
#30. Phlebotomists
- Annual mean salary: $36,050
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
#29. Medical equipment preparers
- Annual mean salary: $36,980
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
#28. Massage therapists
- Annual mean salary: $37,260
- #177 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)
#27. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $38,460
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
#26. Dental assistants
- Annual mean salary: $39,240
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
#25. Recreational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $42,170
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)

#24. Athletic trainers
- Annual mean salary: $45,170
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
#23. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $50,630
- #272 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
#22. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $51,000
- #294 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
#21. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $51,820
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,800
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
#20. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $52,780
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
#19. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $56,650
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)
#18. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $57,740
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
#17. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $59,300
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
#16. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Annual mean salary: $62,130
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)

#15. Chiropractors
- Annual mean salary: $62,650
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
#14. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $63,200
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
#13. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $66,160
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
#12. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $73,760
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,630
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
#11. Speech-language pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $82,220
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
#10. Occupational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $84,700
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
#9. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $97,550
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)

#8. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $99,210
- #301 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
#7. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $99,370
- #250 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)
#6. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $109,270
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
#5. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $120,570
- #276 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)

#4. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $139,810
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
#3. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $163,510
- #218 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)
#2. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $216,120
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)

#1. Orthodontists
- Annual mean salary: $238,090
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $230,830
- Employment: 5,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL ($272,960)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($264,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($260,070)


