Tapers Salary
In Pennsylvania, tapers earn $82,240 at the median, or about $39.54 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $86,596 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $82K get you in Pennsylvania?
About tapers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for tapers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level tapers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Tapers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $95K | +16% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track tapers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a taper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 25.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for tapers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tapers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,259/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is taper a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $82K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for tapers?
Pennsylvania pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tapers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $82,240 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,650, and experienced tapers can clear $105,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,310/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 25.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tapers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tapers salary is worth about $86,596 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tapers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.