Question 1

What is the cost of living in Lancaster, PA?

Accepted Answer

Lancaster, PA's overall price level (BEA Regional Price Parity) is 98.26, where 100 equals the U.S. average. That means everyday goods, services, and housing cost about 1.7% less than the national average. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom is $1,526/month.

Question 2

What is the average salary in Lancaster, PA?

Accepted Answer

Across the 100 BLS-tracked occupation categories with published data in Lancaster, PA, the average median wage is $106,544. The single highest-paying occupation here is Cardiologists at $503,970/year (BLS OEWS).

Question 3

What are the highest-paying jobs in Lancaster?

Accepted Answer

Based on BLS OEWS data, the top-paying occupations in Lancaster, PA are: 1) Cardiologists at $503,970; 2) Family Medicine Physicians at $294,800; 3) Chief Executives at $224,160; 4) Physicians, All Other at $211,250; 5) Architectural and Engineering Managers at $147,020. Click any occupation above to see the full wage breakdown (10th to 90th percentile).

Question 4

How much does it cost to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Lancaster?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a 2-bedroom unit in Lancaster, PA is $1,526/month. FMR is the rent level HUD uses to administer housing assistance and reflects the 40th percentile of standard-quality rentals, updated annually.

Question 5

Where does AffordMap's Lancaster data come from?

Accepted Answer

Salary figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Cost of living comes from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (RPP). Rent comes from HUD Fair Market Rents. All three are federal datasets, updated annually, and free to use. AffordMap pairs them so you can see what a salary actually buys after local costs.

Rank	Occupation	Category	Median salary	Hourly
81	Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	Education	$81K	N/A
82	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	Education	$81K	N/A
83	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	Education	$81K	N/A
84	Dental Hygienists	Healthcare	$81K	$38.85/hr
85	Web Developers	Technology	$81K	$38.81/hr
86	Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	Healthcare	$81K	$38.72/hr
87	Urban and Regional Planners	Science	$80K	$38.51/hr
88	Respiratory Therapists	Healthcare	$80K	$38.49/hr
89	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door	Repair & Maintenance	$80K	$38.45/hr
90	Operations Research Analysts	Technology	$80K	$38.41/hr

Top Paying Jobs in Lancaster, PA

Highest paying careers in Lancaster

Affordability snapshot: Lancaster