Quick answer:First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers in Pennsylvania earn a median $81,540 per year, above the national median of $79,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 26,860 of them. Licensing runs through your state contractor licensing board.
Construction Supervision Pay and Employment in Pennsylvania at a Glance
Metric
Pennsylvania
National
Source
Median annual wage
$81,540
$79,920
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$58,430
$53,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$66,940
$63,400
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$102,810
$101,460
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$133,140
$128,260
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
26,860
812,210
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.85
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
5.3%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Pennsylvania Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Pennsylvania median of $81,540 sits above the national median of $79,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.85 puts Pennsylvania slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Supervision is hired off the local project pipeline. The commercial, industrial and public work active in a metro is what determines how many crews need a foreman.
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers wages in Pennsylvania vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
10,700
$95,840
$99,420
$62,620
$151,490
Pittsburgh
6,000
$83,030
$89,250
$59,570
$129,930
Lancaster
1,630
$76,300
$81,190
$56,750
$116,900
Harrisburg-Carlisle
1,320
$86,090
$91,110
$60,000
$127,400
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton
1,280
$82,490
$91,860
$59,740
$139,340
York-Hanover
1,000
$80,000
$86,620
$60,250
$124,180
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
990
$78,660
$84,650
$57,210
$124,990
Reading
700
$78,770
$85,370
$57,600
$126,560
Erie
420
$79,350
$81,270
$55,620
$106,440
State College
340
$78,880
$81,360
$56,360
$116,390
Altoona
300
$80,220
$81,340
$53,810
$114,940
Williamsport
240
$76,520
$77,910
$51,830
$102,780
Chambersburg
230
$73,630
$75,120
$50,400
$101,770
Johnstown
170
$72,550
$75,130
$49,090
$100,520
Lebanon
170
$76,010
$79,400
$57,520
$104,240
Gettysburg
140
$71,280
$76,160
$50,860
$101,980
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
There is no license to supervise a construction crew. What gatekeeps the role is the trade credential underneath it plus site-safety training - the OSHA 30-hour construction course is the one employers ask for by name - and, on public work, the contractor license held by the employing firm rather than by the supervisor personally. Contractor licensing rules differ substantially between states.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state contractor licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 4 schools
within 175 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
4 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
#1
Pennsylvania College of Technology
📍
Williamsport, PA
•52.6 miles away•BOC Score
71.8
How much do construction supervisors make in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for construction supervisors in Pennsylvania is $81,540, above the national median of $79,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $66,940 at the 25th percentile to $102,810 at the 75th.
How many construction supervisors work in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania holds about 26,860 construction supervisor jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 812,210, and BLS projects about 74,400 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a construction supervisor in Pennsylvania?
There is no license to supervise a construction crew. What gatekeeps the role is the trade credential underneath it plus site-safety training - the OSHA 30-hour construction course is the one employers ask for by name - and, on public work, the contractor license held by the employing firm rather than by the supervisor personally. Contractor licensing rules differ substantially between states. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state contractor licensing board before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a construction supervision certificate or associate degree online while working in Pennsylvania?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state contractor licensing board.
What is the highest-paying area of Pennsylvania for construction supervisors?
Among Pennsylvania metro areas with published data, Philadelphia reports the highest median at $95,840 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Pennsylvania a good state for construction supervisors?
On pay, the state median of $81,540 sits above the national $79,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.85 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (SOC 47-1011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
